Chelsea’s BlueCo ownership group will weather a weekend of protests following the announcement of further protests by a fan group tied to the Blues’ sister club Strasbourg, one week after their former head coach Liam Rosenior’s move to Stamford Bridge.
The west London club’s match against Brentford on Saturday is set to be preceded by a demonstration by ‘Not a Project CFC’, with furious supporters keen to vocalise their frustrations following the departure of ex-manager Enzo Maresca.
The following day, Strasbourg’s Ultra Boys 90 will also look to channel their anger into protest, with an angry statement announcing their intent stressing that Rosenior’s departure signalled ‘another concrete manifestation of the subordination of RCS to the interests of Chelsea FC within BlueCo’.
‘Whatever the future results, this decision illustrates the vertical functioning of multi-ownership: Chelsea helps itself, Strasbourg suffers,’ the statement read. ‘Chelsea, supposedly the “brother club” at the forefront; Strasbourg as a stepping stone.’
Stating that ‘our Racing deserves better’, the fan group looked back to the promising era before the June 2023 takeover, which had seen the club climb from the fifth division to Ligue 1.
‘What do the local authorities who invested 160 million euros in the renovation of the Meinau stadium think?’ The statement continued. ‘These public funds benefit a system in which Racing is a satellite club, serving to develop players (and now coaches) for the benefit of Chelsea and a pension fund.
Strasbourg ultras are preparing to protest the role of ownership group BlueCo in the exit of their former head coach Liam Rosenior (pictured in October)
The former Hull City manager was moved to sister club Chelsea last week (pictured with co-owner Behdad Eghbali)
Chelsea fan group ‘Not a Project CFC’ have shared images of banners for their protest on Saturday
‘What do the governing bodies of French football think, faced with an issue of integrity of our championship and sovereignty of our sporting model?
‘We will not stand idly by. The management is trying to silence the protest with sanctions. We will continue to use all legal means to defend a simple principle: Racing must exist for itself, for its city, for Alsace and its supporters, and not as a tool serving a global financial strategy.’
The protest is set to take place in the form of a march to the stadium before their match against Metz on Sunday afternoon, with banners displayed in the stands throughout the tie.
Ultra Boys 90 have held protests throughout BlueCo’s ownership, frequently flying a flag which reads ‘No to multi-club ownership’ in French.
Rosenior spoke of his love for Strasbourg in his first press conference for Chelsea, and spoke highly of the BlueCo set-up.
‘The guys have been nothing but supportive for me at Strasbourg,’ he said. ‘We’ve had huge success at that club from where the project started, and I intend to work in exactly the same way here.’
But insiders in the Strasbourg dressing room last week were unhappy at how the situation had been managed, with a source hinting at the impending chaos that could unfold if he took up the Chelsea role.
‘Rosenior would really leave like a thief,’ they told French outlet L’Equipe. ‘It’s incomprehensible.
‘The team will implode; I see no other way out.’
Rosenior has since been replaced by former Wolves manager Gary O’Neill, who oversaw a 6-0 win against Avranches in his first outing in the dugout in French Cup action over the weekend.
In the capital, Rosenior will take charge of his first home Premier League game since being handed the role, against Brentford.
