Abramovich set to take his bow at Bridge

BILLIONAIRE Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich plans to make his home debut in the directors’ box on Saturday, when he will receive a hero’s welcome from a 42,000 capacity crowd at Stamford Bridge.

The Russian oil magnate claimed his investment in the club, currently £215million and counting, was worth every penny after watching the Blues opened their Barclaycard Premiership campaign with a 2-1 success at Liverpool on Sunday.

And the man whose enormous outlay in buying Chelsea Village, wiping out its debts and signing seven players has hardly made a dent on his estimated £3.8billion fortune is hungry for more of the same.

John Mann, head of international media relations for Abramovich's oil company Sibneft, said: "I believe his next trip will be for the first home game, against Leicester.

"He's going to try to make it to as many games as he can which is easy when you have your own plane.

"He sees Chelsea as fun. He loves the game and enjoys being part of it, which were big factors behind his decision to pick Chelsea."

Mann had good news for Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri, who bookies William Hill make 6/4 to leave his job before the end of the season.

Mann said Abramovich and Ranieri share the view that it will take time for the club's new signings Glen Johnson, Geremi, Wayne Bridge, Damien Duff, Joe Cole, Juan Sebastian Veron and Adrian Mutu to settle and perform as a unit.