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      in Soccer

      How Jim Ratcliffe went from council house to astonishing net worth of £30bn – and why he almost risked everything

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      MANCHESTER United investor Jim Ratcliffe went from a council house upbringing to an astonishing net worth of £15billion – after almost risking everything.One of Britain’s richest people grew up on a council estate before amassing a fortune which has just enabled him to take a major stake in Premier League football giants United.
      Sir Jim Ratcliffe has gone from humble beginnings to vast wealthCredit: PA
      His turnaround hinged on taking a gamble in 1998 by mortgaging his home and buying an Antwerp-based chemical company, which he and two friends transformed into Ineos.
      He says he deliberated for a year over whether to go ahead, fearing he and his family could lose their home if the firm failed.
      Sir Jim climbed to second in this year’s Sunday Times Rich List, with his fortune put at £29.688billion.
      Top place went to Indian-born British businessman Gopi Hinduja and his family, with estimated wealth of £35billion.
      Read More On Manchester United
      Sir Jim is looking to finalise a 25 per cent stake in United, with reports suggesting he could invest £245million towards improving the club’s infrastructure.
      His potential plans for the Red Devils have sparked speculation over whether Dutch manager Erik ten Hag could be at risk of losing his job.
      United have lost eight of their 15 matches so far this season, including consecutive 3-0 defeats this past week to Manchester City and Newcastle United.
      An unpromising start in Sir Jim’s life included being sacked from his first job only three days in, when bosses at BP found he had ezcema.
      Most read in Football
      Sir Jim, son of a joiner, was born in the Greater Manchester town of Failsworth and lived in a council home until aged ten.
      The family then moved to Hull in East Yorkshire and he was educated at Beverley Grammar School before studying chemical engineering at the University of Birmingham.
      He now lives in exotic Monaco and owns luxury items such as a £130m yacht named Hampshire II with its own beach club and a helipad.
      He has said: “You should see a picture of the council house where I started out.”
      Sir Jim, now 71, later set up his own company Ineos – a chemicals multinational which employs 26,000 people worldwide.
      It sells 60million tons of chemicals each year, with an annual turnover of £45billion.
      He used high-yield debt to fund deals before buying unwanted operations from groups such as BP, whose refining and petrochemical arm Innovent was snapped up by Ineos in 2006.
      That gave his firm refineries in Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Scotland.
      Sir Jim relocated Ineos’ head office to Rolle in Switzerland in 2010 in a move which cut its annual tax bill by £100million.
      Sir Jim has said: “I did have this inkling that I wanted to be successful — that I wanted to be a millionaire one day. But I was just dreaming, really.”
      He also recalled his dismissal by BP when just 21.
      He said: “I was told, ‘You can’t work here with eczema. We can’t spend the money on training you for five years then find you’ve got an allergy, so you’re on your bike’.”
      ‘ORDINARY BACKGROUND’ TO ‘EXTRAORDINARY WEALTH’
      He secured a role with rival petrol giant Esso, who sent him to the London Business School helping him become an expert in turning around failing firms – later prompting his move for Ineos.
      The company has been based since 2016 in offices opposite upmarket store Harrods in Knightsbridge, west London.
      The entrepreneur, on his second marriage and with three children, has homes in London and in Hampshire.
      The boyhood Manchester United supporter revealed an interest in buying the Old Trafford club in January this year after the Red Devils were put up for sale by the US-based Glazer family.
      He faced competition from Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, looking to bid £5billion – but this remained short of the Glazers’ £6billion valuation.
      The Qatar bid was scrapped last month after their attempts to secure a 100 per cent takeover were resisted by the Glazers.
      Sir Jim previously tried to buy Premier League rivals Chelsea last summer when Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich was forced to sell by sanctions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
      But his £4.25billion bid was rejected, before US investor Todd Boehly and his consortium took charge instead.
      Ineos owns France’s top-flight Ligue 1 club Nice, as well as Swiss side Lausanne and a third of F1 motor racing team Mercedes.
      His Team Ineos cycling team has won seven Tour de France titles, with stars riders such as Sir Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas.
      Sir Jim was knighted for services to business and investment in the late Queen Elizabeth II’s 2018 Birthday Honours list.
      Rich List compiler Robert Watts has said of him: “This is a guy from an ordinary background who has created extraordinary wealth very quickly. He seems unaffected by the wealth.
      Read More on The Sun
      “He’s calm, quiet and doesn’t have the brashness you might think a billionaire would.
      “Ratcliffe shows you don’t have do well in the classroom or be anything special early in your working life to make it as an entrepreneur.”
      The new Manchester United investor owns a luxury yacht named Hampshire IICredit: YouTube / Feadship
      Sir Jim owns French club Nice, who he watched take on Monaco in April last yearCredit: AFP
      The billionaire led a relaunch of Land Rover Defender in 2017Credit: Jon Bond – The Sun
      Chemicals entrepreneur Sir Jim is on the verge of investing in Manchester UnitedCredit: Reuters More

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      in Soccer

      Ex-Man Utd star Chris Smalling’s Rome house ‘burgled’ as crooks ‘break in through window and try to escape with safe’

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      A GANG of burglars reportedly broke into Chris Smalling’s home and tried to steal a safe.The former Manchester United star will be questioned by police to get an account of what was stolen.
      Chris Smalling was a target of Burglars in his house in ItalyCredit: Rex
      He is married to Sam Cooke and has a son called LeoCredit: instagram
      The burglars were said to be ‘professionals’Credit: PA:Press Association
      Smalling, 33, is currently playing his trade for Roma in the Serie A.
      Italian media have claimed that his home in Tor Carbone in the Appia Antica area was targeted by thugs on Monday.
      It is reported that a gang broke into his home by smashing a window.
      It goes on to say that they attempted to steal a safe from the house after failing to break into it.
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      Police are said to be investigating the scene and a forensic team have been called in.
      The media have claimed that the gang are “professionals” and are suspected to have come from Eastern Europe.
      SunSport have contacted local police for comment
      It comes two years after the defender was robbed at gunpoint.
      Most read in Football
      They have lived in Italy since 2020
      The couple got married in 2017Credit: instagram
      In 2021, Smalling was robbed in front of his wife Sam Cooke and toddler son Leo when three hooded men broke into his home.
      The incident left the family “very distressed” as they required support from the police.
      Smalling signed for Roma in 2020 after a successful loan spell with the club.
      During his time at Old Trafford, he won two Premier League titles after joining from Fulham.
      He married former Page 3 glamour model Sam in June 2017.
      The couple’s son Leo was born before they moved to Italy.
      Smalling is currently sidelined with injury, having played his last match on September 1.
      Earlier this year he rejected Premier League interest in order to stay at Roma and signed a two-year contract extension. More

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      in Soccer

      Man Utd’s huge decline laid bare as Red Devils have lost same number of home games since Fergie retired as under him

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      NOTHING confirms Manchester United’s astounding decline since Alex Ferguson departed than one horrific home-groan statistic.Sunday’s 3-0 defeat against neighbours City means the Red Devils have lost the same number of Premier League games since Sir Alex Ferguson retired as during his whole reign.
      Erik ten Hag saw United slump to their fifth defeat in ten Prem matches as a humiliating loss to Man City earned the Red Devils a shock home statCredit: Getty
      Sir Alex Ferguson bowed out in 2013 with United’s last top-flight titleCredit: PA
      United’s all-time great manager suffered 34 home Prem defeats from 1986 to 2013 – a total now matched in just ten years by his eight successors.
      The Athletic’s Will Jeanes noted the staggering stat, adding that Fergie oversaw 405 home league games, compared to 196 from those who have followed in a dire decade.
      Some fans described the ‘ 34 fact’ as “mad and “crazy” – while others claim it sums up the club’s problems in finding the right manager.
      One argued: “This isn’t that crazy. They’re much worse and as a result have lost on average twice as many home games a season.
      READ MORE TOP STORIES
      “Why is that shocking? They’ve never come close to challenging for a title since SAF left. More interestingly I think in recent seasons their away form is better than home.”
      In contrast, Pep Guardiola has guided United’s biggest rivals City to six Prem titles in his seven years in charge – peaking with Champions League glory in last season’s Treble triumph.
      One fan posted: “I think Man Utd are as far behind Man City that they have ever been since Guardiola arrived at City , and considering what Ten Hag has spent since he arrived , that is embarrassing on his part.”
      The Red Devils ended the weekend in eighth spot after their fifth loss in ten Prem matches this term.
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      But many supporters on social media believe Erik ten Hag is still in credit after guiding them to third place last season and a return to the Champions League.
      However, this note of caution was typical: “Backing him and want him to succeed, but got to say that some of Erik ten Hag’s decisions are questionable. He has to take his fair share of blame.”
      HOW UNITED BOSSES HAVE FARED SINCE FERGIEHERE’S the record of the five permanent managers, two caretaker-bosses and one interim chief who have followed Sir Alex Ferguson since his 27-year golden reign ended in 2013.
      Their win ratios are for ALL games in charge.
      David Moyes, July 2013 to April 2014 – 52.94% win ratioRyan Giggs, caretaker, April 2014 to May 2014 – 50% Louis van Gaal, July 2014 to May 2016 – 52.43%Jose Mourinho, May 2016 to December 2018 – 58.33%Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, December 2018 to November 2021 – 54.17%Michael Carrick, caretaker, November 2021 – December 2021 – 66.67%Ralf Rangnick, interim, December 2021 to May 2022 – 37.93%Erik ten Hag, May 2022 to present – 64%
      And this is Fergie’s legacy:November 1986 to May 2013 – 59.67%.The Scot bowed out with United’s last Prem title triumph. More

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      in Soccer

      We live next to derelict Euro 2028 stadium and are against redevelopment plans – it will completely overshadow our house

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      CASEMENT PARK is one of two stadiums in Ireland that is set to host matches at Euro 2028.That is despite the Belfast ground having been unused and rotting since 2013 and awaiting re-development.
      An aerial view of Casement Park, which was announced as one of the proposed venues for UEFA Euro 2028
      Casement Park is in terrible decay and some residents are opposed to an redevelopment
      Proposed images of the Casement Park redevelopment
      Alongside the Aviva Stadium, Casement will be assigned games once UEFA formalise Ireland and the UK as hosts for the tournament.
      After opening in 1953, Casement Park played a significant role in the development, promotion and profile of Gaelic Games in Belfast, Antrim and Ulster.
      But the now derelict stadium is under opposition from residence in the area, who don’t want the redevelopment plans to go ahead.
      At Owenvarragh Park, a few residents are not impressed with the plans as they fear

      In 2014 — a year after the stadium was closed — the High Court quashed planning approval for the 38,000-seater development after opposition from the Mooreland and Owenvarragh Residents’ Association (MORA).
      The planning application was re-structured in 2022 as they reduced the capacity to around 34,000.
      It was approved by then-Department for Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon, MORA launched a challenge to the ruling.
      But that investigation fell on flat ears in May 2022, when Mr Justice Humphreys ruled MORA’s challenge to the proposal were without merit.
      Most read in Football
      The community remain deeply divided about the plans to redevelop the stadium.
      Speaking with the Belfast Telegraph, a number are concerned it will overshadow their houses.
      One resident said: “It’s going to come about. It was inevitable it was going to happen”
      “There are too many interested parties, especially political parties, who want to get it built and put their names to being the ones who got it built.
      “I’ve lived here 35 years. This was my aunt’s house and we build this in her back garden. My father lived here before that.
      “It’s going to overshadow my front garden – my back garden – the windows around the back, so it’s going to be a disaster for me.”
      MAKE IT HAPPEN
      Another resident on the opposite side of the abandoned stadium reckons the proposed redevelopment is a huge boost for the community.
      She said the development will revitalise the area: “Can’t happen quickly enough”.
      “It’s absolutely fantastic. It will bring so much employment and activity to the road.
      “Businesses just think it’s great. There’s no real negative to it. Yes, there will be a wee bit of inconvenience while it’s being built, but you’ll get that anyway.
      “I’m born and reared here and I’ve no issue with it whatsoever. There are only – maybe – a dozen times a year when it’s going to be full.”
      Recently during a Northern Ireland European Qualifiers 2024 at Windsor Park, a section of the supporters made clear their feelings on playing matches at a newly developed Casement Park.
      Read More on The Sun
      A banner read: “No Casement.”
      In March 2023 the GAA announced that, if redeveloped as proposed, it would give special permission under Rule 42 for Casement Park to be included in the winning joint-UK & Ireland bid to host the Euro 2028. More

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      in Soccer

      We live by a stadium – we can’t use our gardens on matchdays and have to buy litter pickers to clean streets ourselves

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      FUMING residents who live next to a major stadium have complained that they can’t use their gardens on matchdays and have to buy litter pickers to clean streets themselves.Disgruntled locals living near to Coventry’s 40,000 capacity CBS Arena have said that living next to a venue used for football and concerts can be challenging.
      Residents living near Coventry Football Club have complained about a number of problemsCredit: Roland Leon
      Locals said matchdays and concerts were particularly problematicCredit: Roland Leon
      Dave Evans, 57, said he even had to buy a litter picker to sort the mess out himselfCredit: Roland Leon
      Homeowners claim they are battling thoughtless parking, piles of rubbish, late night horn honking and street brawls.  
      Truck driver Dave Evans, 57, who lives on Hen Lane within a couple of kicks of the Arena, said he’d bought himself a litter picker off Amazon because he just couldn’t stand the mess.
      He said: “Honestly, it really does affect your life and not in a good way.
      “I had to turn my front garden into parking because on match days I couldn’t park anywhere near to my house.  
      Read More in Football
      “And the litter is something else. The Council have two little bins between our house and the stadium and they are overflowing very quickly.  
      “The joke is that the Council are quick to empty an empty bin but after events you might not see them for two weeks. I ended up buying a litter picker off Amazon and doing it myself. ”
      Dave continued: “We leave our own bins open and push them to the front when there’s a match or a concert in the hope that people will use them. It can be a pain.
      “The concerts are a lot worse than the matches. People are milling around from 9am and they end much later.”
      Most read in Football
      Tracy Greenhill, 56, who lives with severe osteoporosis, is on the same street and said visitors were “oblivious” to locals’ pain.
      She said: “Before any match, thousands of them walk down this road and they are in their own zone, totally oblivious to the fact people actually live here.
      “I have tried to walk my dog up the road to the shops and found myself being pushed against garden walls because none of them step aside.  
      “And you get a lot of goading of opposition fans which always involves obscene language. It is not something you want kids hearing.
      ” I have had people parking in my disabled bay and get away with it because there is not proper enforcement.”
      Since its opening in 2005, the Coventry Building Society Arena (CBS), which includes a hotel, shopping centre, exhibition hall and casino, has had a mixed existence.  
      Built as a replacement home ground for Coventry City, a rental dispute in 2013 led to the club having a succession of temporary homes and Wasps Rugby Club moving in.  
      Now, both clubs use it as their home venue and the concerts have never stopped.  
      There are two little bins between the houses and stadiums which overflow quickly. I bought a litter picker off Amazon and did it myself.”Dave Evans, 57
      And those off for a good time can often be at their most thoughtless, especially when time is running out and they haven’t booked a parking spot.  
      Aman Mundian, 32, a father of two who works in retail, said: “It can be a problem if you need to get somewhere and there’s a match on or concert because there is traffic everywhere.
      “I have had people park right in front of the house, blocking us in, and pointing at a tiny piece of curb as though that gives them the right to park there. Some people just don’t think.”
      Clare Jones, 56, who has lived in the area all her life bemoaned how it had taken away the open space.
      She said: “I must say I don’t see so many traffic wardens down here as I used to. It seems the Council take what they can and give back as little as possible.”
      However, some residents enjoy being a short walk from their local team’s ground.
      And they occasionally get to hear some of music’s biggest names for free.
      John Jinks, 72, a Coventry City season ticket holder, said: “This is the perfect place to live.
      “A 10 minute walk to the ground . I absolutely love it.”
      Steve, 57, a former hotel manager, said: “I like living here because you get free music. You don’t even have to sit outside, the noise travels in.
      “I never imagined sitting at home hearing a Springsteen concert live but now I have.”
      And Kramchand Luchman, 63, said: “The only downside for me is the extreme traffic that comes to the area and as far as I know there are no restrictions on this particular Glaisdale Avenue.
      “But I like to see people enjoying themselves. I feel happy for them. They are having a drink, enjoying themselves, watching football, listening to music, and that is the culture of this country. It is great to see it happening outside your door.”
      Caretaker Daniel Sabin, 43, added: “It is what it is. If you live near a football ground, get your shopping done early on a Saturday and either go to the game or stay in your house.
      “For me, the concerts are much worse than the matches – more mess by far.”
      David Green, 40, said he rented out the two parking spaces outside his semi-detached home for £15 a-time.  
      ‘NIGHTMARE’
      Sam Bowen, 35, said: “I was ticketed twice parked outside my own house. I didn’t know about having to phone up and register your car with them.  
      “In general I think it has boosted the area and I do like to hear the crowd roar for a goal or open the door and listen to the concerts.”
      But a 49-year-old a mother-of one who can remember the days before the stadium arrived, strongly disagrees.  
      “It has turned this quiet road into a nightmare. When they built it, orange dust covered everything and no-one took any notice and that was a sign of things to come.
      “The concerts are ridiculous for the noise and mess. When Harry Styles was here I saw girls fighting on the streets and Bon Jovi were a nightmare too with loads of bikers turning up.
      “But the football fighting is the worst. It can be savage. I’ve seen grown men out with their children punching one another on the nose.  
      Read More on The Sun
      “I have been here 20 years and there is no policing. You don’t see a warden and we who live here are just forgotten about.”
      Coventry City F.C and Coventry Council have been contacted for comment.
      Clare Jones said that the space had been taken away and bemoaned the lack of wardensCredit: Roland Leon
      Many living near the 40,000 capacity stadium have slammed the noiseCredit: Roland Leon
      Amen Mundian said parking and traffic can be a problemCredit: Roland Leon
      John Jinks 72 is a Coventry season ticket holder and loves living nearbyCredit: Roland Leon
      Kramchand Luchman said he enjoyed the atmosphere and the only problem is trafficCredit: Roland Leon More

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      in Boxing

      Inside Tyson Fury’s property empire, from £550k Morecambe home to Vegas mansion he let coach live in rent free

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      TYSON FURY has worked his way to the top of the boxing world. The Gypsy King has fame, glory and heavyweight championship belts to his name thanks to his exploits in the ring.
      Tyson Fury owns a number of stunning propertiesCredit: @tysonfury
      Some estimates place Fury’s net worth at £130millionCredit: PA
      His properties range from Morecambe to VegasCredit: Netflix
      With those accolades has also come a vast sum of wealth.
      He is estimated to have a net worth of around £50million.
      However, following his fight against Dillian Whyte in April 2023, some estimates put that figure as high as £130m.
      Fury has put this wealth to good use, investing in a number of luxury assets.
      READ MORE SPORT FEATURES
      Cars are one of the main items Fury’s money has gone towards, with his garage featuring a pair of Rolls Royce, a Porsche Taycan and a Ferrari to name but a few.
      But chief among his assets are his houses.
      Fury is said to own a number of properties, including the £1.7m pad featured in his Netflix documentary At Home With The Furys and a Las Vegas home where he is said to have let his coach stay cost free.
      Below we will take a look at some of the stunning properties.
      Most read in Boxing
      £550k family home
      The Fury family lived in a £550k home for yearsCredit: ITV
      The home featured five bedrooms
      For years Fury and his family lived in a beautiful five-bed home in Morecambe.
      Tyson has remained adamant he would never uproot his home from Morecambe telling ITV doc Tyson Fury: The Gypsy King in 2020: “Why would I abandon my own country for a bit of money and some fame?
      “I love it… It’s true beauty. If the weather was better, every house here would be a million quid.”
      And considering the Fury’s former house, it’s clear to see why he would not want to leave.
      In 2021, the five-bed, four-bathroom Lancashire home of Fury that overlooked Morecambe Bay was estimated to be worth £550,000.
      Fury’s wife Paris often gave fans a sneak peek into their home
      The home was suitably decked out inside as well, as shown thanks to the snaps Fury’s wife Paris often shared to her social media pages.
      Oil paintings, large photos of Fury in action and a trophy cabinet were all present in the property.
      There were even gold curtains and a huge gold-framed Versace mirror.
      A walk in wardrobe was also a frequent sight on Paris’ stories, featuring designer handbags and glamorous outfits to rival the Kardashian’s of the world.
      £1.7million Morecambe mansion
      Fury brought a £1.7m home in 2020Credit: Netflix
      The home includes Paris’ £50,000 collection of shoesCredit: Instagram @parisfury1
      True to his word, Fury snubbed a move elsewhere in order to remain by his beloved Morecambe.
      In December 2020, Fury brought a new seaside mansion which, according to Land Registry documents obtained by The Mirror, set Tyson Fury Ltd. back a cool £1,695,000, and is mortage-free.
      With seven children in tow – after welcoming their seventh in September 2023 – the new property gave the Furys a new lease of Morecambe life.
      Paris was given free reign on the interior design of the stunning property, which features gold chandeliers, marble-topped counters and a grand piano.
      The home featured heavily in the Netflix show At Home With The Furys, which offered fans a glimpse inside the chaotic and full-on life of Britian’s top heavyweight boxer.
      There is a castellated front wall and wrought-iron black and gold fence and CCTV warning signs for security as well as lion motifs and four eagle sculptures to keep up appearances.
      A water fountain can also be seen at the front of the property, while there is also a mini-playground with the “Gypsy King” logo painted on the floor outside.
      The Gypsy King logo is plastered on the floor outsideCredit: @tysonfury
      It featured heavily in the Netflix series At Home With The FurysCredit: Instagram @parisfury1
      Fortunately, Paris has upgraded her walk-in wardrobe for her amazing shoe collection – estimated to be worth a cool £50,000.
      Speaking to loose women in 2020, Paris – who tied the knot with Fury in 2009 – explained the move came from them deciding to prioritise their children’s safety.
      She said: “We get people around the house. It’s not good, we actually have to because of that.
      “We’re in the process of moving house because we’ve had too many people at the door – too many strangers knocking.
      “And we have five children here, it’s not like me and Tyson’s here, two adults who can sort of deal with situations.
      “We have people coming to the house and the kids are opening the door and we don’t know who they’re opening the door to. It’s not what we need. It’s not the ideal situation.”
      Caravan and gypsy wagon
      Fury used to live in a caravanCredit: ITV
      Fury’s dad John still lives by the traveller lifestyleCredit: ITV
      But it hasn’t always been fancy digs for Fury, as once upon a time, he lived in a caravan on his father’s land.
      Fury was raised as a traveller and left school at 11, but never lost touch with his roots despite his fame and fortune.
      Indeed, dad John still retains that way of life as shown in the Netflix doc.
      On his ITV documentary, Fury was seen wheeling his wagon around outside his Morecambe home.
      Marbella home
      Fury is also said to own a stunning white-cobbled mansion in Marbella, Spain reportedly worth up to £6m.
      Pictures from 2018 have shown Fury in front of the property which features columns, large windows and an array of palm trees.
      After revealing the pad on his story he said: ““New house had to treat myself.
      “Been a long time coming. But the Mack in back [sic]. MTV Cribs blessed by God.”
      Fury shared a snap in front of a stunning Marbella mansion
      Sin City digs
      Fury’s property empire is not limited to this side of the Atlantic either.
      Over in Las Vegas, also known as Sin City, Fury is said to own a stunning mansion as well as one other property.
      Fury explained that he uses the pad when he fights in the United States, such as in his epic trilogy with Deontay Wilder.
      And his coach SugarHill Steward has been allowed to stay at the property rent free until he is called upon to help Fury with his fight preparation.
      Read More on The Sun
      Fury previously said ahead of his fight with Derek Chisora: “I have bought a big beautiful house out there and never really used it, one camp.
      “My trainer SugarHill is living in the house rent-free right now, sending me photos of all the fun he is having. I love it over there.”
      He is also said to own a home in Las VegasCredit: Instagram More

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      in Soccer

      Chelsea could LEAVE Stamford Bridge despite £70m boost, as renovated ground would be smaller than ALL London rivals

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      AS with most things involving Chelsea, even the plan to develop their Stamford Bridge stadium has been a soap opera.Former chairman Ken Bates first mooted the idea back in the 1980s, when he famously dubbed his club ‘The Manchester United of the South’ to much derision.
      Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly faces a dilemma over whether to splash out on a huge revamp of Stamford BridgeCredit: Reuters
      The Bridge capacity has plunged from its original 100,000 to 40kCredit: Rex
      Back then Stamford Bridge was infamous for its vast open terracing, concrete bench seats and the Shed End – a much-loved but dilapidated slab of sloping concrete almost in a different postcode to the pitch as it was so far away.
      There has been a slow and steady makeover of the club’s ancestral home in West London in tune with their rise in status.
      But politics and in-fighting have got the better of a succession of owners wanting to turn it into a truly global stadium.
      Deposed Russian Roman Abramovich even got as far as releasing drawings of his vision to transform Chelsea’s home ground before his reign was hit by the wrecking ball of the Ukraine war last year.
      READ MORE CHELSEA NEWS
      In its original form Stamford Bridge had a capacity of 100,000. Today’s ground is barely 40,000. It is smaller than Tottenham, Arsenal and West Ham’s grounds in the capital alone.
      And that is why securing the rights to a sliver of land behind the West Stand is a key moment in a saga that has been running almost as long as EastEnders.
      Even so, Chelsea’s new ownership led by American chairman Todd Boehly and his pals from Clearlake Capital cannot make up their minds what to do.
      The 1.2 acres of land due to come into their possession early next year was advertised for sale so the board of directors decided to snap it up because somebody else would.
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      But that doesn’t mean the bulldozers will be moving in next week to demolish the outdated Stoll Building and pave the way for Chelsea to eventually live in a state-of-the-art 65,000-plus seater arena worthy of world class football.
      An option to move away completely to nearby Earls Court remains on the table as much as expanding ‘The Bridge’. Both plans are being studied with equal consideration.
      Any plan to build on site requires permission from the Chelsea Pitch Owners. A group of 13,000 fans plus a few connected celebrities who own the freehold to the ground.
      Chelsea are engaged in consultation with them and are mindful of the constraints of building on their existing home.
      Even with full renovation, experts estimate that Stamford Bridge could only accommodate 60,000 when full to the brim.
      There is much more room just 1.5 miles up the road at Earl’s Court where a much bigger stadium could be built while Chelsea see out their time at Stamford Bridge – their home since 1905.
      The current ownership is mindful that their rivals’ grounds are getting bigger and bigger.
      It’s no coincidence that Spurs’ stunning new 61,000 ground has been picked for games at Euro 2028.
      Arsenal’s Emirates hosts concerts, even West Ham’s vacuous London Stadium puts on baseball in the summer.
      Liverpool are expanding capacity to 61,000, Aston Villa’s atmospheric Villa Park is to undergo expansion. The Etihad – home to Treble winners Manchester City – is being redone.
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      We live in the shadow of Stamford Bridge… we’re being made homeless in £80m Chelsea FC deal – we’re disgusted

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      VETERANS have slammed the sale of their homes to Chelsea FC’s home Stamford Bridge.Those living in Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions in Fulham, London, have said they’ll refuse to leave when given their marching orders.

      Veterans live in the shadow of Stamford BridgeCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Those living in Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions in Fulham, London, previously said they’d refuse to leave if given their marching ordersCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      One of the youngest veterans, former army man Matthew Bignell, 36, told Sun Online he would refuse to leaveCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Now, the sale of their homes to the football club has been confirmed.
      The Premier League giants have purchased the majority of a 1.2 acre site next to Stamford Bridge from the Stoll Foundation.
      One of the youngest veterans, former army man Matthew Bignell, 36, told Sun Online he was “deeply disappointed” by the move.
      He added: “It’s a huge shame. There’s too much emphasis on the money they’ll gain and not enough on the homes they’re losing.
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      “They’ve made dozens of veterans homeless. It’s not good enough.”
      He previously told how veterans would refuse to leave their homes after the sale.
      He added: “We have to look into what we can do to fight back against this decision. We’re not sure making that many veterans homeless in the short term will really help in the long-term.”
      The military pensioners are furious over a deal that has seen Chelsea purchase the 1.2-acre area of land for £80m.
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      It comes amid its £2billion planned expansion.
      But it means the 100 veterans and war widows living inside the 1915 block will have to be rehoused – something many are fighting.
      Veteran Sean Kennedy, 51, has lived in his flat since 2013.
      He added: “It’s disappointing but not unexpected this has happened. The charity’s quality of care has never been very strong.
      “Now I have to find somewhere else to live and I’m overwhelmed. I’m too stressed to fight back, there’s nothing I can do.
      “It’s not surprising, we live next to Chelsea FC. They have the power and the money to do this.”
      Most of the tenants are over the age of 60, with some claiming they won’t be able to physically manage moving out.
      Alan Parmenter, 67, who served in the army between 1971 and 2004, is “absolutely disgusted” by the plans.
      He previously said: “We’ve done nothing wrong. There’s a lady across the way who is 94. It’ll kill them.
      “I can’t physically move out. The lift doesn’t work. I’m not going to be able to move anything.”
      He added that he just wants “a peaceful life” and is too old to move.
      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 added: ” 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.”
      Another tenant, Neil Ingram, 62, said it felt “like a tsunami coming our way”.
      He added that the £7,800 the tenants will get in statutory home loss payment is “not a lot of money”.
      He added: “I’m concerned. It feels like a tsunami coming our way. It’s not a lot of money but some people are happy with that.”
      Mark McFadden, who spent 17 years in the army, said residents “don’t know when we’re leaving” and “don’t know where to go”.
      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.
      The Fulham mansions is the original site Sir Oswald, a successful theatre magnate, donated to house veterans in 1916.
      Since then the charity has expanded to sites in Acton, Hounslow, Chiswick and Aldershot, Surrey.
      The charity, which listed its “comprehensive income” at £597,000 in 2022, now claims it doesn’t have enough funds to refurbish the Fulham site “to necessary Government housing standards”.
      It would cost “a minimum of £10million, funds the charity simply does not currently have”, according to consultation documentation.
      It added: “The overall thermal efficiency and insulation of properties in Fulham is often very poor, many tenants complain of their homes being cold and say they are unable to afford their heating bills.”
      Meanwhile, Will Campbell-Wroe, the charity’s CEO, is paid between £80,000 and £90,000, according to its latest accounts.
      Three other members of staff at the charity earn between £60,000 and £70,000.
      The club has promised not to take possession of it until 2025 at the earliest.
      Stoll Chief Executive, Will Campbell-Wroe, says: “The veterans are the heart of this organisation and we continue, as we have always done, to act in the best interests of the charity and its beneficiaries. The Chelsea FC ownership group’s offer enables us to limit uncertainty for residents and offer support over a longer period of time.
      “The site at Fulham is just not fit for purpose for the long term and while this is a difficult time for our residents, it is something we must do, to enable us to support veterans now and in the future.
      “We are enhancing our robust support programme for our residents during this process and our commitment to them will continue to be at the forefront of all we do at Stoll.” 
      Residents will not have to leave their homes straight away; the offer includes a leaseback period, meaning that the land would be temporarily given back to Stoll after completion of the sale, according to the charity.
      This will allow the charity to support residents to move to alternative, suitable accommodation, it said.
      Stoll’s Board of Trustees expects completion to take place in early 2024. 
      The Sun revealed previously that the Blues have committed to a massive redevelopment of their current home that ended fears they would relocate to a new stadium.
      American owner Boehly, who bought the Premier League outfit last year for £4.25billion, made promises to the stadium freeholder to expand the ground rather than move the club to a new location.
      Now Chelsea want to build a new 60,000-capacity ground to keep up with their rivals commercially with the new owners hoping for a staged rebuild of the Bridge, with the stands replaced and upgraded one by one.
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      Chelsea FC refused to comment when approached by Sun Online.
      Sean Kennedy, 51, moved into the block of flats in 2013. He’s a Royal Air Force veteran after three years of service in the 1990sCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Will Campbell-Wroe, the charity’s CEO, is paid between £80,000 and £90,000, according to its latest accountsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More