Chelsea will seek to "allay any concerns from local residents and businesses" over a possible redevelopment of Stamford Bridge at a series of meetings this month, according to Gary Jacob of the LONDON TIMES. The west London club has "drawn up plans for increasing the capacity of the stadium" after "abandoning the idea" of moving home because of problems with three sites considered in recent years. Chelsea Owner Roman Abramovich has "taken charge of the project, which is likely to cost several hundred millions of pounds, and commissioned feasibility studies of the surrounding area in west London." The biggest problem is that Stamford Bridge is "hemmed in by a railway line and cemetery behind the East Stand and residential and commercial properties to the west and north." One solution proposed is to "dig down and try to overcome the challenge of trying to fit a larger stadium on a site" that is around five acres smaller than Emirates Stadium, as Real Madrid did with the Bernabéu. The broad outline of the possible project and its local impact will be "shown to Chelsea's neighbours, season ticket-holders and members at the stadium" from June 30-July 2. The club has not officially confirmed that it will stay at its present site but it has been "working on doing so after running into problems trying to secure land at Earls Court, White City and Battersea Power Station" (LONDON TIMES, 6/16). In London, Oliver Todd wrote Chelsea could "use Wembley Stadium at a restricted capacity during a redevelopment of Stamford Bridge under a loophole that allows the ground to host an unlimited number of events." The club is "hoping to expand" its home to house 60,000 supporters but doing so would require it to "move out for three years when building work eventually begins." Wembley and Twickenham have been contacted about hosting Chelsea but "doubts were cast over the former due to a restriction on the number of events that can be held there each year." However, under the terms of an agreement with Brent Council, an unlimited number of matches could be "held at Wembley if the attendance falls under 50,000 spectators." That would involve "shutting the top tier and cutting off 40,000 seats but that would still offer Chelsea around 8,000 more than their current 41,837 capacity at Stamford Bridge" (DAILY MAIL, 6/16).
GETTING THE JOB DONE: In London, Dan Stanley reported Chelsea Manager José Mourinho is "expected to complete a new contract deal" with the club over the next few weeks. Mourinho is reported to sign a new four-year contract worth £30M ($47M) soon, with both sides "pleased at the progress of negotiations so far." His deal will "come as no surprise, after Chelsea won the Premier League title last season with the Portuguese being named manager of the year" (INDEPENDENT, 6/15).
