what are you talking about that chelsea has no debt? they OWE over $700M. Do you think RA is going to pay all of that with his own money and then leave so that the club ends up w/ a clean slate?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/may/20/premierleague.chelsea

omar, chelsea, uk

The sad thing about sports today is that it IS a free market. Free agency has ruined sports. One can't idolize players anymore as they only have loyalty to cash. CFC and Utd are classic cases richies getting richer and reducing everyone else's stake in the PL. It's boring and will end badly for all.

Shannon, Richmond, VA, USA

Even as a CFC fan it's hard to justify how the club is run. However those who think CFC are finished if RA walks away ignore the facts. The club has no debts and owns the stadium and training ground. So even in the unlikely event he did get bored CFC would be OK. Compare that to Arsenal, LFC etc

Keith, Boston, USA

71% of their income being paid out to players wages is not good business. Mr Abramovich is a good business man, but I can't help but feel that his seemingly "win-at-all-costs" attitude will destroy the club when he inevitably calls it a day. It would be a big loss for English football all together.

Rob Delve, Manchester,

There is very little prospect of reducing the wealth gap in our society whilst these gross anomalies are permitted, with players earning 500 times the average UK salary

Paul , northwich, england

Would anyone really believe anything Kenyon says?

Man U are the most profitable club so should have the most money available.

Madrid are just financed by the Spanish government but UEFA turn a blind eye.

Nick Matthew, London,

Chelsea's fall will be spectucular. This is not a case of IF but WHEN. Only a matter of time before Abramovich packs up and moves onto other things.

Sam, Glasgow,

It's a good job there's a never ending pot of money!

Elliott, Malice, Middx

As a Liverpool supporter since 1959, I was pleased that ManU were champions of the EPL and the Champions League last season, rather than Chelski. I would never have thought that possible in the 1990s

Padraig, Perth, Australia

I ike the way in which Real Madrid operate, whereby they take a percentage of image and sponsorship rights from the players, which means they can still pay high wages AND make money.
Chelsea are going to be great to watch next year - get down to the Bridge and watch - no ticket increases for 3 yrs!

Rob H, Chesham, England

It's no wonder Chelsea have taken over from United as the team everyone hates the most.

Guy, London,

Fortunate Abramovich has deep pockets otherwise they'd be in the same league as Leeds FC. Too bad it isn't a requirement to make a profit!

Clara, Richmond, England

to be honest, i cringe when hearing about the fees paid nowadays, at our club and at other clubs around the world. this is ridiculous money, no one is worth that much! as much as i hate the gunners, their wage-policy is brilliant and hats off to them for following though with it....

gideon, basel, switzerland

BC

Just because Chelsea are under no obligation to reveeal their salaries doesn't mean they don't!

These amounts of money are obscene.

luke neave, bristol, england

Some day soon the premier league bubble will burst and that can only be a good thing for real football rather than the stage productions we have now.

Clive, Dartford, Kent

I they didn't get paid for one year, could they make a real significant dent in world debt?

Something to think about Lampard.

Although granted if someone said to me you're not getting paid for a year I would be less than impressed.

Paul, London,

Manchester UTD and Real Madrid are the two clubs that destroyed the integrity of football by turning it into a money lottery.

It's a bit churlish to blame other clubs for trying to compete too.

Alan Delaney, London,

Chris Dee, How is Chelsea's spending in 5 years different to Liverpool's, Man U's, Real's or Barca's in 10. It was just done quicker.Your comment is the same tired one thrown around by peole with little knowledge of the game and who's team has underperformed. Again.

Russell, London,

The way football is run is a cscandal. If this was a normal business they would have been bust long ago. It is wrong tht teams like Chelse, Liverpool, and others in the Premiership can rack up so much debt in order to buy success.

Craig , Liverpool, UK

Billy. Interesting point about illiterate footballers. Oh, and "find" isn' spelt with an "o". What position do you play?

Mark, Rome, Italy

as a 'hardcore' fan of the cfc i wonder this : who's going to pay the bill when roman gets his champions' league and decides his little footie games are over? our board are fools. (even though keeping players like essien , mikel or cech makes sense).

alexis, grenoble,

"...but their determination to keep the squad together at almost any cost is a testament to the success of their player recruitment in recent years." This does not make any sense. At best it is a contradiction.

Dave, Sneinton,

Thank You Abramovich for single handedly destroying the enjoyment of the best game in the world.
These players should be ashamed of themselves, no wonder England are so poor at International competitions. We're all judged on performances but footballers are judged on how good their agents are!

Steve, ealing,

No problem.

While everyone else owes millions/biliions we simply have the money!

The future is blue!

A.Foster, London,

Rediculous. Club football is no fun anymore. The passion has gone and has been replaced by money. Too many foregn players and too much money. Obviously the "hardcore" Chelsea fans are going to disagree with this opinion but then again, ignorance is bliss.

kris, Bristol,

Please let the football bubble burst soon. Paying this mount of money to dullards chasing after a pigs bladder is just so obscene, especially as they have neither the manners, respect, or good grace to accept authority decisions.

Pete, St Albans, England

Sick team in a sick game. If this is the best way we can foind of allocating resources (from a thief to a bunch of illiterate good for nothings) then there is no hope for us at all.

Billy Barnett, HK,

Football made easy.Spend nearly a billion pounds in bailing out a club in dept,buying up as many good players as you can ,paying them obscene amount of wages and Bob's you uncle!
The Russain could have achieved the same results if he had spend the same money at Wigan or Stoke.Chelsea great ?Nah!

chris dee, london,

As Chelsea are a private company, and under no obligation whatever to reveal their employees' salaries, where are all these figures coming from? A slow day in the transfer market leaving the media with nothing to do but play with their calculators?

Believe nothing till you hear it from Chelsea.

Barrie Collins, Long Sault, Ontario, Canada