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Chelsea bidders are said to be angry at what has been perceived as preferential treatment shown to the Ricketts consortium in their attempts to purchase the club, according to reports.

The Raine Group, the American company that is leading the sale process, allegedly asked Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck to facilitate a meeting between Tom Ricketts and Paul Canoville. This is despite strict ruling written out in a letter which was sent to the bidders that there should be no contact with the Chelsea executive team - that includes Buck, as well as directors Marina Granovskaia and Eugene Tenenbaum.

Worries had arose over the Ricketts family, who own the Chicago Cubs, after Canoville, who was Chelsea's first-ever black player, voiced his displeasure at their attempts to purchase the London outfit amid claims of racism. He tweeted: "I've seen and heard enough. I'm backing @ChelseaSTrust and saying a big fat anti-racism NO to the Ricketts bid!!"

But after a one-hour meeting with Ricketts, Canoville's fears appeared to have allayed. "As the club's official ambassador on racism, I was grateful to be asked for my