Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Chelsea fans are starting to discover what is really going on between Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.
The dysfunctional dynamic at the very top of Chelsea is finally boiling over as Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali’s working relationship hits rock bottom.
An exit strategy is now taking shape behind closed doors.
Boehly and business partner Mark Walter have opened talks to sell their combined stakes directly to Clearlake Capital. If finalised, the deal would give Eghbali and Clearlake complete operational control with over 86% ownership, ending years of internal civil war.
This will likely come as bad news if the Eghbali chants are anything to go by over the past season or so.
Todd Boehly and Mark Walter graphic
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali clash over strategy
The Financial Times are reporting that since buying Chelsea, Boehly and Walter’s side of the consortium has clashed with Clearlake over strategy.
And the new talks come after years of on-and-off negotiations between the two sides, but it was not yet certain that a deal would be struck.
For years, any friction between Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali was downplayed, repeatedly describing their working relationship as entirely professional and amicable.
But now it seems as if there was more than meets the eye.
Chelsea Football Fans Protest the Club's ownership
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Behdad Egbali getting even more control is bad news
Behdad Eghbali has drawn fury from Chelsea fans, who view him as the true puppet master behind Clearlake Capital’s rebuild.
Supporters despise his hands-on micromanagement, from barging into dressing rooms to personally dictating transfer policy.
By treating Chelsea like a venture capital firm, flipping academy stars for pure profit, stripping experienced leaders, and installing yes-men managers, like Liam Rosenior.
Fan groups have staged protests outside Stamford Bridge with banners targeting Clearlake, warning that he needs to leave, but it looks like it could be the opposite.