Ricketts family bid makes it onto Chelsea shortlist as a takeover edges closer

dailystar.co.uk:

Ricketts family have seen their bid to buy Chelsea included on the final shortlist today after Raine Group - the merchant bank charged with overseeing the sale of the club - whittled potential buyers down to four options.

Chelsea fans have made it clear that they don't want the Ricketts family's bid to succeed in light of anti-Muslim comments made by the family patriarch Joe in recent years.

But it looks as if they're still in the process, along with bids from Todd Boehly's group, Sir Martin Broughton's consortium, and a fourth bidder who has remained anonymous.The Ricketts family, owner of the Chicago Cubs, say they are hopeful of taking over at the club and have attempted to allay supporter concerns after meeting with the Chelsea Supporters' Trust (CST) this week, though the Trust say they "still have concerns".In 2012, Joe Ricketts said that Muslims were "naturally my enemy," though representatives of the family have asked that the group not be judged on the comments of one man, who isn't actually heading up the bid.Tom Ricketts replied to the CST concerns, saying in a statement: "My family and I are very grateful to all the fans and supporters’ groups who took time to meet with us this week and share their passion and concerns for Chelsea Football Club.

It’s clear you have nothing but the best interests of the club at heart."We have listened to all of your feedback – including from the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust – and are grateful that the door is still open for us to demonstrate our commitment to working with fans to protect the club’s heritage.