With a formal share offer, published on this website late on Tuesday 1 July 2003, it was announced to the world that Chelsea Football Club was embarking on a new era, and sparking a new age for English football too.
After a long weekend of negotiations and paperwork, a deal had been agreed that day for a Russian businessman to buy 50.09 per cent of the existing shares in Chelsea Village plc from then chairman Ken Bates and other owners. It meant a new man was in control of the 98-year-old club.
The published share offer was a mandatory one for all the remaining shares which were in many hands, and in due course Roman Abramovich became the sole owner. Among the formal words in the share offer on chelseafc.com a decade ago today was a comment:
'We are delighted to agree this deal to acquire what is already one of the top clubs in Europe,' it said.
'We have the resources and ambition to achieve even more given the huge potential of this great club.'
