Nick Candy urges next Chelsea owner to seize ‘once in a lifetime’ chance with shortlist of frontrunners released TODAY
NICK CANDY believes the takeover of Chelsea is a "once in a lifetime" opportunity.
The property tycoon and Stamford Bridge season ticket holder lodged a bid worth more than £2.5billion to buy his beloved Blues.
Candy says he has secured backing from various investors and gained extra funds from business people in South Korea.
A shortlist of frontrunners to assume control from outgoing owner Roman Abramovich is due to be published shortly.
Candy said: "From the beginning of this process, I have always maintained that I wanted Chelsea to end up in safe hands.
"Whatever happens today, what’s most important is safeguarding the future and the legacy of the club for the fans.
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"We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Chelsea to set the new gold standard for club stewardship over club ownership and introduce a new era of fan involvement in Premier League clubs."
Candy's bid was one of only a few to guarantee the fans a "golden share" in Chelsea.
That would give fans a huge say in running the club on things that matter most to them.
Rival proposals from US sports franchise owners Todd Boehly, Tom Ricketts and fellow American Woody Johnson are also in the running.
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Two London finance firms have also bid, as has former Chelsea captain John Terry as part of a wider consortium.
Ex Tory MP and Olympic runner Seb Coe has also out together a proposal with ex Liverpool chairman Martin Braughton.
Abramovich is being forced to sell up because of his alleged ties to Russian leader Vladimir Putin who ordered an invasion of neighbouring Ukraine last month.