CHELSEA’s £2billion stadium revamp has been put on hold after old soldiers declared war on the plan that could leave them homeless.
Club bosses need to buy a £50million plot next to the stadium to develop and extend the Stamford Bridge site.
But the land includes the historic Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions where around 100 military veterans and war widows live – and many are battling to stay put.
Fuming vets have now applied for an injunction to stop the Stoll charity trustees who run the block from selling it.
Documents seen by The Sun state that the sale “will diminish the local community and harm residents, many of whom are vulnerable and all of whom have served their country.”
Stoll resident Geoffrey Reed applied to Wandsworth County Court for an injunction to remain in place until the trustees have shown they have properly “discharged their duties.”
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The legal block is a major blow to American tycoon Todd Boehly’s ambitious plans to transform The Blues’ west London home.
Military pensioners living at the 1.2-acre site in Fulham said they would refuse to leave if given their marching orders.
One of the youngest army veterans, Matthew Bignell, 36, said: “People here won’t leave. They’ll have to be taken to court and get eviction notices.
“I’m in a position where I can physically and financially afford to leave but I probably won’t to show support for the other tenants.”
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The two-acre site backs onto Stamford Bridge and the deal would pave the way for a full-scale rebuild of the ground, boosting capacity from 42,000 to 55,000.
The Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation, set up to support veterans returning from the First World War, provides ex-service men and women, and their spouses, with a home.
Most of the tenants are over the age of 60, with some claiming they won’t be able to physically manage moving out.
Colin Tiso, 57, suffers such severe PTSD from his time fighting in the first Gulf War he can’t leave his one-bed flat.
He previously told The Sun: “Because of my PTSD I struggle to leave my flat and I’m getting treatment for that. My anxiety is overwhelming. Whenever I get the newsletters with information about the plans I completely shut down. For me as an army veteran I’m scared.
“Leaving the flat terrifies me. If I can’t leave the flat then moving is going to be traumatic.”
The veterans’ planning block creates a new headache for the tycoon after moves to relocate the club’s stadium to Battersea were red carded by angry fans.
The news comes after owner Todd Boehly submitted plans to the council to erect two giant lion sculptures outside Stamford Bridge.
His proposal would cost around £2million, with the lions replicating those displayed on the club badge.
It is understood that Chelsea would prefer to renovate Stamford Bridge, rather than relocating to a new site.
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On the pitch, Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa yesterday meant this has been their worst start to a league campaign since the 1978/79 season.
The stuttering Blues have now failed to score in 13 Premier League games since 2023 began – a record for a calendar year.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
