Local Council Look to Discuss Chelsea Stadium Upgrade

Chelsea have received a boost in their plans to upgrade their Stamford Bridge stadium with the news that the Hammersmith and Fulham Council are prepared for talks following the Premier League team’s rejected Battersea Power station bid.

Chelsea had wanted to build a 60,000 seater ground on the disused site in south west London, just over three miles from their current home, but this week a proposal from two Malysian companies was granted preferred bidder status.

The club have been keen to find a new site in order to expand on their current 42,000 capacity at Stamford Bridge, which lacks the sufficient space in the surrounding area for a major redevelopment.

But the new leader of Chelsea’s local council, Nicholas Botterill, has attempted to instigate fresh discussions with the club, owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, in a bid to get the European champions to stay put.

“It now looks highly unlikely that CFC will be moving away from their historic home,” he said. “The council remains committed to working with the club to explore all possible avenues for keeping the Blues here at their original home.

“The door is open and the council is again ready to sit down and discuss how Stamford Bridge can be appropriately upgraded so that it is fit for one of Europe’s leading football clubs.”