Chelsea Women has unveiled a long-term strategic plan to accelerate growth, following the appointment of Sonia Bompastor as its Head Coach.
At the heart of the plan, Chelsea Women will be repositioned so that it sits alongside, rather than beneath, the men’s team. Chelsea Women will therefore have dedicated resources, management and commercial leadership, which will be focussed solely on the growth and success of the women’s team.
Zarah Al-Kudcy, Commercial Director of Chelsea Women, said: “We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved as a club in the women’s game over many years now and, at this pivotal moment in the history of the sport, we want to take our work to the next level by unlocking the long-term potential of the team.
“Dedicated resources and facilities are precisely what women’s football needs and deserves to fulfil the enormous opportunities within the game. Further investment only underlines how seriously Chelsea values women’s football and the benefits of this will be seen in the many years to come.”
This structural reshuffle will enable Chelsea Women to harness the full potential of the opportunity for women’s football, helping the club improve its commitment to excellence both on and off the pitch.
Chelsea has made the announcement, following the Football Association (FA) and professional clubs decision to create a new and independent company to run the Women’s Super League (WSL) and Championship from next season.
Prior to this development, any prospective investor into a WSL team is required to invest through a men’s team. However, after analysing the market and discussing it with investors, clubs found that there is a strong desire to invest solely into the women’s game to specifically support women’s football.
Reacting to this finding, BDT & MSD Partners, a global merchant bank, has been employed as a financial advisor for a potential minority investment in the club. The merchant bank will be responsible for assessing inbound interest related specifically to Chelsea Women.
Insider Sport spoke to Queenie Porter, VP of West Ham United Women’s, who explained back in February the range of unique deals that women’s clubs offer brands and companies compared to their male counterparts.
Barbara Charone, Director of Chelsea, stated: “Chelsea have long been pioneers in the women’s game, and today’s announcement marks a milestone in the history of the club and women’s sport.
“Further investment in the women’s game is vital. These players, coaches, and staff deserve the best, and this bold step ensures Chelsea Women will continue to be a beacon of progress and innovation within the sport.”
Furthermore, the club has stated that it plans to inject further investment into infrastructure, training facilities and player development, in the hopes that this “will lay a firm foundation to cement Chelsea Women’s position as a leading force within the women’s game over the next decade and beyond”.
Despite the structural change, the club ownership group will continue to be the controlling shareholder of Chelsea Women.
Jason Gannon, Chief Operating Officer at Chelsea, commented: “Industry-leading infrastructure is key to any team achieving success. In this new era for Chelsea Women, the team will have the support and resources necessary to illustrate our commitment to excellence on and off the field.”
