Todd Boehly: Chelsea owner responds to fan protests & Clearlake Capital rift | OneFootball

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has insisted fan protests are to be expected as the Blues continue to yield mixed results from the ownership group's divisive direction.

Ahead of the 4-0 victory over Southampton, a section of Blues fans took to the streets outside Stamford Bridge to protest against the club's ownership - Boehly and Clearlake Capital, fronted by Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano - after growing frustrated with the lack of success from the expensive playing squad.

Among the protests were chants in support of former owner Roman Abramovich, who remains a popular figure among a large number of fans after being forced to sell the club in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Appearing at the Financial Times’ Business of Football Summit in London, Boehly was given the chance to respond to those supporters who have urged the ownership group to sell Chelsea and move on.

"I just think it is par for the course," he responded. "The sooner you learn you are not going to keep all the people happy all the time, the freedom shows up.

"We are just trying to execute a plan and recognise things aren't linear, and we are trending in the right direction. The trend is moving in the right direction and that's the thing that really matters.

There have been reports of a rift between the owners / Crystal Pix/MB Media/GettyImages

"In June, it will be three years in charge. That's not a lot of time. It's a whirlwind of activity and a steep learning curve, but I think that's also a good thing."

Boehly was also quizzed on the status of his relationship with Clearlake Capital following reports of a rift between the two controlling parties late last year.

Asked if the ownership structure will look the same next year, Boehly simply insisted: "I can't predict the future. We have agreed on a strategy and a way forward and stuff is getting done."

He did, however, stress he holds no regrets over the structure of the deal to buy Chelsea in 2022 with the benefit of hindsight on his side.

"I don't look in the rear-view mirror," he vowed.