Chelsea’s new owners could ‘set the tone’ by granting fans golden share

Chelsea’s new owners have been urged to accelerate major structural change in English football by granting supporters the coveted golden share.

The Stamford Bridge club’s eventual new proprietors have the power to spark the long-mooted Government legislation on both fan influence and an independent regulator, according to lawyer Stuart Hatcher.

A partner at London firm Forsters and a big Brentford fan, Hatcher drew up the Bees’ golden share deal in 2012 when Matthew Benham took ownership at the west London club.

Brentford’s golden share stands as the template for positive football governance, giving fans veto powers through a supporters’ trust holding.

Tracey Crouch’s fan-led football review has called on Government to usher the golden share into club ownership models, as well as legislate for a new independent regulator to oversee the sport.

And Hatcher believes Chelsea’s new bosses will have the opportunity to shape a positive change in football club ownership.

“This could be a catalyst for a number of important things that should be coming down the line anyway,” Hatcher told the PA news agency.

“I think Chelsea’s new owners giving supporters the golden share would set the tone for other clubs.

“The Government probably won’t be rushed or affected by what Chelsea do themselves.

“The fan-led review did take a long look at Brentford and spoke to a lot of the Brentford people; I’ve spoken to people on the committee as well.

“And they were saying ‘actually this is a good model’.

“I don’t think the Government’s going to be rushed into its own legislation program, they have their own problems and challenges.

“But if Chelsea do it you might have other fans calling on their clubs to follow suit.

“Without being pejorative about