Abramovich takeover: Candy offers Chelsea lifeline loan

Billionaire Chelsea fan Nick Candy has offered  a lifeline loan to ensure the club makes it until the end of the season.

Chelsea are currently on the verge of crisis in the wake of the sanctions imposed on Roman Abramovich.

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The club are no longer able to sell tickets or merchandise and could face financial ruin if the sale doesn’t go through in the next few weeks.

But property developer Candy, who is thought to be one of the frontrunners to buy the club, has offered an instant loan to the club, to enable it to “operate in the short term” ahead of a takeover.

A spokesperson for Candy said: “We welcome the news that the sale of the club will be conducted quickly. This is a reassuring development for fans after a week of great uncertainty.

“If the club requires money to operate in the short term, Mr Candy would be happy to help ensure it has the necessary financial resources, subject to Government approval.”

Candy is understood to be preparing a bid of around £2bn for Chelsea and has also stated his desire to have fan representation on the board should a deal go through.

“I’ve supported Chelsea since I was the age of four,” Candy told Sky Sports.

“My dad was asked to play for Chelsea. I love Chelsea. I don’t mind where it ends up, even if it’s not with me, as long as it’s in safe hands.

“One hundred per cent [the fans need to be included in ownership] and they should be involved. Both on the board and economically.”

Petr Cech cast doubt over the club’s ability to finish the Premier League season ahead of the 1-0 win over Newcastle on Sunday.

Cech said: “We have to admit we go day by day as it’s not in our hands. The conversations are about if we can finish the season and we’re part of the Premier League. For us to carry on to finish the season would help everybody involved.

“I’m not involved in the talks with the government but the club are talking every day about the licence. We hope the situation will be clearer soon.

“We hope the people working for the club will be able to get their salaries and live their lives and work. But this is a difficult question for me to answer as I don’t know what the licence will be like day-to-day. At the training ground we’re trying to support each other and focus in difficult times.”