A deal has been reached to take Liam Rosenior from Strasbourg to Chelsea, but it hasn’t been without controversy.
For those at Stamford Bridge, the timely appointment of Rosenior is a great thing.
Rosenior won’t be on the sideline against Fulham, but he will be ready for Chelsea’s FA Cup tie with Charlton Athletic at the weekend and will be able to implement his ideas early.
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From the side of his old club, though, the news has sparked a very different reaction, as seen in a rather explosive message to the hierarchy.
Strasbourg supporters issue passionate statement after Liam Rosenior’s departure
Unrest has been growing in France with respect to the multi-club ownership model under which they are being run.
Strasbourg fans have protested the BlueCo regime, with their status as a lesser cog in the machine leading many in France to wonder if their club’s best interests are being worked towards.
Rosenior’s departure to Chelsea is just the latest case of Strasbourg feeding their bigger sister club.
After the news broke, Strasbourg’s supporters federation issued a statement to X.
They write: “”The transfer of Liam Rosenior marks another humiliating step in Racing’s subservience to Chelsea. For two and a half years, along with others, we have been trying to raise the alarm about this.
“The problem goes far beyond the mid-season sporting impact and the ambitions of a young coach. It is structural; the future of French club football is at stake.
FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-STRASBOURG-BREST
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“Every additional contortion by Marc Keller, every extra minute spent at the helm of the club, is an insult to the tremendous work accomplished before 2023. What was seen by many as an outrageous move last September increasingly looks like sound advice: he must leave. Now.
“The FSRCS will coordinate closely with the three other associations actively fighting against multiple ownership, as well as all people of goodwill, to define the next steps.”
Not only are they angry with the owners, but they are resounding in their calls for club president Keller to step away from his duties.
You can’t find much fault in this reaction. Were the shoe on the other foot, with Chelsea losing their best talent year after year for the benefit of a ‘preferred’ club, you can be sure the Stamford Bridge faithful would be up in arms as well.
Chelsea are certainly backing the new head coach 👀
Thoughts on the contract, Chelsea fans?
Liam Rosenior and Enzo Maresca
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BlueCo might need to adjust their Strasbourg strategy
The feeling among the fanbase is resounding. They ended the statement with #BlueCoOut.
While the power in this situation lies with the owners, an unhappy club is not likely to be a profitable one.
If they are to continue strengthening the Blues at the expense of Strasbourg, they will have to step up their efforts to replace those they snap up.
The BlueCo multi-club ownership model will always be a problem for some, but they could go some way towards keeping the peace by ensuring the investment they are making into the Ligue 1 outfit is sufficient to keep them competitive.
Otherwise, the beneficial relationship Chelsea have with their sister club threatens to sour, quickly.
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