NFL team owner expresses disappointment over failed Chelsea bid

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New York Jets co-owner Woody Johnson expressed his disappointment as he opened up about his failed bid to buy Chelsea.

As widely reported, only four groups have been shortlisted to go to the next stage of the Chelsea sale process, and unfortunately for Johnson, his is not among them.

It is interesting how his bid did not make the list considering like other Americans involved in the bid, Johnson clearly has experience in owning and controlling an elite sports team.

He also insisted that he began supporting Chelsea during his time in the UK.

“My interest in Chelsea is [that] I’m a fan of Chelsea,” the former US ambassador to the UK told NY Post.

“When I was over there [in the UK], I couldn’t be a fan of a particular team. I had to be diplomatic.

“I had to like all the teams, but we were Chelsea fans. It’s London’s team. The concept of New York and London, I thought was one that we could do pretty well with that.

“I thought it would be another interesting endeavor for us.”

The 74-year-old billionaire, however, admitted that he had his concerns over the financial demands to buy the west London club.

“Not getting Chelsea [is] disappointing,” he said about Raine Group and the club’s decision.

“But the numbers have gotten so enormous that on one hand, I’m disappointed and on the other hand, financially I think it’s going to be a huge challenge.”

New York Jets’ lack of sporting achievements under his co-ownership might have played a part in Raine Group and Chelsea’s decision to reject his bid.

As highlighted by The Guardian, the Jets have yet to reach the Super Bowl since his family took over the club 22 years ago and even failed to make the play-offs in 11 years, which is the longest current drought in the NFL.

So despite decades of experience in owning a sports team, Johnson does not really have the track record to lead a winning team that Chelsea fans would want.

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