Mellor concerned about Chelsea takeover

Former UK Football Task Force chairman David Mellor has welcomed the arrival of Chelsea’s new owner Roman Abramovich – but warned the Russian billionaire against the perils of toying with the fortunes of the Barclaycard Premiership club.

Chairman Ken Bates last night agreed to sell his majority shareholding in Chelsea Village Plc to Abramovich, whose wealth is estimated to be round €5.5bn – with the oil tycoon claiming to possess the “resources and ambition” to take Chelsea forwards.