Chelsea cash boost

Tuesday, 08/11/2011

Chelsea's hopes of moving ground might have taken a battering - but they are set to rake in cash by agreeing naming rights.

The Blues have revealed that they should be able to reveal sponsors for Stamford Bridge sometime early in the new year.

That would bring in vital cash for the team as they battle to keep up with clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal who have much bigger stadia.

Chelsea have one of the smallest grounds in European competition with capacity restricted to 38,000 for Champions League games, 2,000 or so below full occupancy.

Owner Roman Abramovich and chief executive Ron Gourlay sufered a knockback recently when they tried to buy the club's pitch from the fans, Chelsea Pitch Owners, who own it.

That put a dent in plans to either develop the ground or move elsewhere. The club must now consider what they can do about stadium plans.

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