Newcastle lawyer one of the trustees handed running of Chelsea FC

A Newcastle lawyer is one of the trustees who have been handed “stewardship and care” of Chelsea football club after owner Roman Abramovich stepped away from its management.

The Russian-Israeli billionaire is understood to have taken the decision to temporarily hand the running of the London club to the trustees of its charitable foundation to protect Chelsea from links to the wider situation of Russia’s war with Ukraine.

One of those six trustees is John Devine, a leading sports lawyer who works for Newcastle law firm Muckle LLP.

Mr Devine is described on Chelsea’s website as an adviser to “many of the clubs in the Premier League and Football League”, while his biography on Muckle’s website names Newcastle’s St James’ Park as his favourite football ground.

It is not entirely clear how the trustees will run Chelsea following Mr Abramovich’s statement, though the board includes chairman Bruce Buck and director of finance Peter Ramos.

In the North East, Mr Devine has been involved with the Newcastle United Foundation’s NUCastle project to turn a site close to St James’ Park into a new community hub. He has also worked with Wallsend Boys’ Club and the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, and is a trustee of St Cuthbert’s Care and the Great North Air Ambulance.

Mr Abramovich passed control of Chelsea to its foundation’s trustees at the weekend, issuing a statement that said: “I have always taken decisions with the club’s best interest at heart. I remain committed to these values.

“That is why I am today giving trustees of Chelsea’s charitable Foundation the stewardship and care of Chelsea FC. I believe that currently they are in the best position to look after the interests of the club, players, staff, and fans.”

Mr Devine and