Ricketts family on Chelsea backlash: We won't win over supporters right away, we will fight discrimination

Laura Ricketts has insisted it is her «life's work to fight against discrimination» after acknowledging the family's proposed takeover of Chelsea will not win over all fans «right away» amid ongoing opposition to their offer for the club.

The Ricketts family investment group, owners of the Chicago Cubs and led by Joe Ricketts' children Tom, Todd and Laura, have faced fierce backlash from some Chelsea supporters after it emerged that Joe Ricketts was accused of Islamophobia three years ago.

The Chelsea Supporters' Trust has voiced concerns about the Ricketts family on grounds of diversity while around 100 supporters protested outside Stamford Bridge before Saturday's 4-1 home defeat to Brentford.

Prominent members of the bid, including Laura and key financial backer Ken Griffin, have been in London this week meeting with various fan groups to assuage their fears and attended Chelsea Women's 5-0 win over Reading Women at Kingsmeadow on Sunday.

The Ricketts family has owned the Chicago Cubs franchise since 2009, when they bought the team along with a share of Comcast SportsNet Chicago for $845 million. Last year, Forbes estimated the franchise's value at $3.36b after the family renovated Wrigley Field and created a regional sports network, Marquee.

Issuing a statement to ESPN on Thursday, Laura Ricketts, who came out as gay in the 1990s, said: «We're not going to be able to persuade all the fans right away that we will be good stewards of Chelsea — we're going to have to show them with meaningful action if we are successful in our bid. But I can assure all Chelsea fans that it has been my life's work to fight against discrimination and bigotry of any kind.

»Coming out as an LGBTQ+ woman has influenced my perspective and