Chelsea can cash in on Europe, says Bates

CHELSEA chairman Ken Bates has revealed his growing confidence that his team will qualify for a £10million Champions League jackpot.

Bates’ side, who occupy the final Champions League spot, still face tough tests against their leading rivals Everton and Liverpool, both of whom have yet to visit Stamford Bridge this season.

However, the Blues are four points clear of Everton and a further point ahead of Liverpool, while they have also closed the gap on third-placed Newcastle to just one point.

Qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in three seasons has been Claudio Ranieri’s priority all season due to the major financial implications.

While Bates stressed that Chelsea always build their financial plans around not being in Europe, he believes the club’s goal is almost within touching distance with just five games left.

“We assume that we’re not going to qualify for UEFA and that we’re going to get knocked out in the first round of the FA Cup and the Worthington Cup away, with no television revenues,” he said.

“We start off with that doomsday scenario and, touch wood, every year we finish off much better than that. If you get into the Champions League, then you have about £10million guaranteed in the league phase.

“So if we qualify for the Champions League this year, which is looking more and more hopeful, more and more definite, then that £10million would be a bonus.

“However, at least one Premiership club, whom I’d better not name, assume that they’re going to get into the Champions League every year and would have huge financial problems to face up to if they don’t make it.”

Bates would not commit himself as to whether Ranieri would then be given funds for any significant signings, while there are also the futures of Jody Morris and Gianfranco Zola, who are both out of contract this summer, to consider.

“Claudio will look at the team he’s got and decide how strong it is and how much stronger he needs it to be,” added Bates.

“But we’ve spent a lot of money on players and have a pretty strong squad, many of whom have big experience in Europe.”

He believes Chelsea could be even higher up the table if they had not suffered bad luck away from home at Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, “who beat us in Fergie time, where you play on at Old Trafford until United win”.

Bates added: “If we come third, it would only be the fifth time in our history so it would be a bit overdue. Somehow, third has a nice ring to it.

“We’d also get another merit payment worth about £500,000, which would come in handy.”

Chelsea’s financial position is certainly improved by the number of homegrown youngsters coming through the ranks, such as Carlton Cole.

Another former youth team product, Joe Keenan, was set to return to reserves action against Coventry last night after a six-month lay-off with a broken leg and knee ligament damage.

“It’s been difficult and, at one point, I didn’t think that I’d play again this season,” admitted the promising midfielder.

“But things have come together in the past few weeks.”