CPO – What does the future hold? The Chelsea Football FanCast #210

On 23rd July, an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Chelsea Pitch Owners will be held. Voting will take place on 5 resolutions to determine whether the CPO can sell shares again.

At the heart of this issue, over and above the possibility of criminal liability, is the ability of the CPO to raise money, money they claim they need to repay the loan from Chelsea FC, through selling shares.

This of course raises fears from skeptical supporters that ‘carpet bagging’ i.e. wealthy friends of the Chelsea FC board will be able to buy up shares in bulk and then be able to influence any future vote on the status and future of the CPO, which they narrowly failed to do last autumn.

And of course beyond this, the issues still linger about the future of Stamford Bridge as the permanent home for Chelsea FC; can the CPO genuinely safeguard Stamford Bridge as Chelsea’s home in the future?, and what of talk of moves to Battersea; Earls Court or even Old Oak Common and White City? Alternatively could Stamford Bridge be viably re-built to house 55,000 supporters on a match day?

On Wednesday, 11th July, the Chelsea FanCast recorded a special one-off show to get right to the heart of the key issues involved with the CPO EGM and the future of the CPO and Stamford Bridge as the home of Chelsea FC.

The aim was to hold a ‘Question Time’ style debate, chaired by ‘Stamford’ Chidge, to get a good debate going on the issues, facts and opinions about what’s going on, where we are at present and what the future holds. The panel was made up of CPO related organisations; CPO shareholders and notable Chelsea fans:

John King – Chelsea Author; CPO Shareholder

Tim Rolls – Home and Away season ticket holder; CPO Shareholder

Gray Smith – CPO Director, Board Member and CPO shareholder. Author of the special report into CPO share selling

Dan Levene – Chelsea correspondent for the Fulham Chronicle; CPO shareholder

Dave Spring – SayNoCPO; CPO shareholder

Adil Pastakia – Campaign 55, CPO shareholder

Darren Mantle – SayNoCPO and cfcuk, CPO shareholder

It was a rare opportunity for the listeners to the Chelsea FanCast to quiz those who are deeply involved with and passionate about Chelsea, the CPO and related issues.

The Chelsea Football FanCast Special: Chelsea Pitch Owners – What does the future hold?

Download here.

KTBFFH!