Chelsea’s next owner won’t want to follow the Roman Abramovich model, says Jamie Carragher

Jamie Carragher has suggested that Chelsea’s next owner will not want to follow the example set by Roman Abramovich.

The Russian confirmed on Wednesday that he would be selling the Blues ‘in the best interest of the club, the fans, the employees, as well as the club’s sponsors and partners’.

Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss has said he has been offered the chance to buy Chelsea, with Abramovich reportedly keen to sell quickly due to the threat of sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Writing in his column for The Telegraph, Carragher proposed that any potential buyer would struggle to run Chelsea like Abramovich has done since he took over the club in 2003.

The Russian has spent over £2billion on the club, transforming them into serial trophy winners in the process.  

‘When he goes, so will the seemingly endless supply of cash to ensure if success was not forthcoming he could try and try again,’ Carragher said. ‘The cost of recruiting managers and players – crippling to most clubs – was a price to be paid for success.

‘There was always only one problem with that approach. What would happen if he ever pulled the plug? Who, other than those with the same access and willingness to dip into a supply of emergency billions, can run Chelsea along the same lines and keep the promise of title wins and European success?

‘It remains to be seen who has the kind of money required to make the purchase. It is a big ask for anyone to replicate the past two decades.’

Jamie Carragher is not sure whether Chelsea’s success will be maintained without the Russian

Hansjorg Wyss (right) says he could form part of a consortium to purchase the west Londoners

The pundit also suggested that Abramovich’s frenetic approach to hiring and firing managers would not be sustainable under new ownership.

‘It is incredible to think that Chelsea have employed 14 managers in 19 years, and yet there has been a sustained period of success, major trophies arriving regularly,’ he said.

‘No owner will want to follow that model. The orthodox – and reasonable – view is that you need continuity to compete for the Premier League and Champions League.

‘The uncertainty of a club sale will also affect the morale of staff. Many of them must be seeking reassurances about the club’s future.’

Carragher also recalled how ‘everything changed’ when Abramovich ‘took spending to another stratosphere’ upon buying Chelsea 19 years ago.

Carragher said that Liverpool were demoralised when Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003

The former Liverpool defender said that the Reds were demoralised by the sale at the time as they realised they could no longer compete for the league title.

It also marked the ‘beginning of the end’ for Reds owner David Moores, who eventually sold the club to American pair Tom Hicks and George Gillett in 2007.

However, Carragher praised Abramovich for raising the level of English football and encouraging investment that has attracted the world’s best players and managers to the Premier League.