An Open Letter to Chelsea FC Board, Players and Fans

And to Chelsea FC Women too (FREE TO READ)

What a difference a few months makes. When I last sat down to write something detailed, we’d just completed the signing of Enzo Fernandez, had a key Champions League tie against Borussia Dortmund and most importantly, had a somewhat fit squad to work with. I mean sure, we were 10th in the Premier League which was not ideal, but it was only going to get better right?

Fast-forward to May 2023 and we sit… 12th. I’m not going to crab too much about going out of the Champions League - it was a culmination of not getting key moments right and lacking that little bit of luck you need in those moments. What I am angry about, however, is a lack of accountability from the squad.

You are MUCH BETTER than being 12th. And you know it. Don’t get this twisted, however. I’m not here to stroke your egos, tell you that you are brilliant and it’s not right for you to be in this position. Quite frankly, you don’t deserve that. The old adage is true - the table doesn’t lie.

Arsenal aren’t winning the league because they haven’t been better than Manchester City, despite what their fans might have convinced themselves on social media. Aston Villa and Brighton have not ‘got lucky’ to end up in a tussle for European football. And amazingly, Chelsea have not been unlucky to not even be safe yet from the dreaded ignomy of a relegation that at the start of the season would have resulted in you being laughed off the face of the planet.

There isn’t one singular cause or reason behind this, it’s a case of collective failure. One of my biggest gripes in football is when results go poorly, it is always a manager that suffers. Often, they are an issue - but the players downing tools is much more prevalent. The majority override the minority - it is much either to dismiss one man and his backroom staff than upset a whole dressing room.

So here is my message to the players: Do better. You might parrot out PR statements after a manager is dismissed, you might genuinely feel guilty about it, you might not even care at all. However, the fans do. In this cost of living crisis, when the budgets are already being squeezed to the nth degree in a lot of households, football is often one of the few little joys people have left.

In general, the country is suffering from a malaise of poor Governance, rampant cronyism, rising xenophobic and racist attitudes and huge disparities in wealth. Seeing your team go out, fight and battle for every single ball, cover every blade of grass and come off the pitch having given every ounce of blood, sweat and bottle every single match is the bare minimum. Whilst I am in awe of the technical talent on display, I have short shrift for them if they don’t give maximum effort. I’d happily look every single player in the eye this season and ask if they felt they had given maximum effort, because in truth, I’d know that maybe bar one or two isolated names, they would all be lying.

To the players that aren’t playing regularly, the young stars waiting for their chance - trust me when I say the vast majority of the fanbase want to see you shining. Whether you are an academy graduate, or someone signed for the future, we know you will give absolutely everything to impress and make a career for yourself. Even in the last week, a new fan favourite is already emerging simply because of the passion, desire and skill he showed on the pitch to give absolutely everything. There are legends at this club that lacked technical talent, but made up for it through sheer heart, determination and willpower and there is no single reason you can’t be the next one of those. We all hope to see more of you in the final weeks of the season to give us genuine hope for the future.

To the players that are already thinking of their next venture or their new club in the summer. Please make it known to the coaching staff, so they stop selecting you. Seeing you ambling about every single week, showing no fight or desire or stomach for anything is insulting to the great names that have previously had the honour to wear this shirt. Whilst I’m sure a lot of you couldn’t give a damn about them - the fans do. And whether you need to hear this or not, the fans ultimately decide how fondly you are remembered. If you want out, go now. We’ll say thank you for your existing service and then judge your career on the genuine merits you provided this club.

If you are someone who we can genuinely feel has given everything for the club and it’s a natural time to part - rest assured, your name will be sung from the annals of Stamford Bridge, your glories and legacies passed down from fans of this generation to the next and you will forever receive a warm reception in the Blue part of West London. If you don’t fall into that category - quite simply you will be consigned to history because Chelsea FC existed long before you and will exist long after you, despite what your egos might tell you.

To the new ownership - although it has now almost been a year - you’ve made mistakes. You don’t need me, a common fan to tell you this. Mistakes are a natural human inhibition. What we do deserve as a fanbase is accountability. We’ve constantly seen various examples of you speaking to business conferences, journalists, media publications to discuss what the rollercoaster has been like so far.

Why aren’t we getting anything on official fan channels? You made it very clear you see club media as important and in particular have talked about improving the app and the modes of communication. Sit down for an open and frank discussion about what has worked, what hasn’t worked, what mistakes you’ve made, what promises you have for the future and restore optimism in the club. The fans will appreciate it and support this level of transparency and it will restore faith that the right decision was made when so many - including myself - backed your ownership as being the best future for the football club.

Talk about ticket accessibility and how you will improve the atmosphere. Give clear direction on the stadium redevelopment. Explain the multi-club model and how it fits in. Re-assert the importance of Cobham and the success of the academy. These are just a few of the questions that if answered would give so much clarity and confidence to a currently fractured and apathetic fanbase.

I am sure it hurts some of you as much as it hurts me because you are also lifelong fans and as well as great successes, you’ve seen the club in the doldrums. I’m sure some people reading this will remember the difficult days swilling around the old First Division when the only time we encountered Tottenham and Liverpool was through the luck of the cup draw.

At this moment, every journalist with an axe to grind is queueing up to take an easy pop at us and get spurious clicks for various thinly-veiled insults about the way the club is being run. Come out, and be honest in this interview and you’ll find the fans in general are much more willing to push back and fight your corner again. Chelsea as a club has always been at the strongest when it is willing to fight as one and fans are united behind a common goal and by showing this transparency and honesty, you can achieve this unification.

I’ll finish this by asking you to look at Chelsea FC Women. A side that every single game gives 100%. Did I feel worried on Wednesday as the clock ticked towards the 90 at 1-1? No I did not, because this team has earned the trust and faith from me as a fan to support it until the bitter end.

Every week, whatever the result, ‘Stand Up For The Champions’ rings around to honour this incredible squad and management team. And even if the team didn’t win anything this year, the same fans would be packed into Kingsmeadow come September ready to fight again because they would know that every player on the pitch and every member of staff in the sidelines is fighting with them to achieve the common goals.

If the entire club had that ethos and attitude, we wouldn’t be in 12th in the Premier League. It’s time for accountability and raw honesty to ensure we can set up stability for a much better season next year for Chelsea Men. And most importantly, to keep the Blue flag flying high absolutely everywhere we go.

Rob Pratley