Ricketts promise Chelsea fans: No ESL, diversity a priority & stadium upgrade

The Ricketts family has made a list of promises to Chelsea fans should their takeover bid be successful, including a vow never to sign the Blues up to a European Super League.

The Chicago Cubs-owning Ricketts are among the final four bidders aiming to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich, with Cubs chiefs and siblings Tom and Laura Ricketts fronting the bid.

Between 50 and 100 Chelsea supporters protested against the Ricketts' bid before Saturday's Premier League clash with Brentford, over historical comments made by Joe Ricketts - Tom and Laura's father - about people from Muslim backgrounds.

Before the match, the Chelsea Supporters' Trust (CST) said its membership "neither supports nor has confidence in" the potential new owners and that 77 per cent of members polled did not support the Ricketts' family bid.

Now the Ricketts family has reiterated its intention to bring "diversity and inclusion" to Chelsea - along with other promises including a stadium upgrade on their Stamford Bridge ground.

Joe Ricketts, who has no role at the Cubs or in the bid to buy Chelsea, used Islamophobic language in emails sent between 2009 and 2013 that were leaked in 2019. The 80-year-old later apologised.

In a statement released on Sunday the family said: "Over the past fortnight, the Ricketts Family has met with several Chelsea supporter groups and carefully listened to all their feedback.

"As we enter the next phase of the process, we are sharing a list of specific commitments that give fans a pivotal role in protecting Chelsea's heritage and building for future success.

"We will continue to discuss our ambitions for the club with fans and the wider football community in the coming days."

Tom Ricketts has built bridges with the Muslim