The battle for Stamford Bridge: Who will snap up Chelsea FC?

Roman Abramovich's reign at Chelsea is over after 19 eventful years, but as the race to succeed him as the club’s owner hots up, observers fear the lessons of the past have not been learned by those who run English football

Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea football club: two decades after Roman Abramovich took over the club and Chelsea are on the block again, with a bevy of prospective billionaire bidders circling one of world football’s most prized assets

By the time Roman Abramovich and his associate Eugene Tenenbaum arrived at London’s luxurious Dorchester Hotel to meet Chelsea FC’s owner Ken Bates in the summer of 2003, it was clear to the club’s negotiators that the Russian billionaire was serious about his takeover bid.

The 36-year-old had first approached Bates just days earlier and made it clear it wasn’t just a stake in the club he wanted but outright control.

While Abramovich and his ...