Kenyon: More success to come at Stamford Bridge

The General · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 10:57 am

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon vowed to ensure that Chelsea's impending Premiership success is the first of many titles - even though the club will rein in Jose Mourinho's summer spending.

The Blues' hopes of clinching the title without playing were foiled on Monday night when Arsenal beat Tottenham, meaning they must win at Bolton on Saturday to make sure of success.

Kenyon is nevertheless already looking to the long-term, predicting that Chelsea will be one of the dominant forces in English football for years to come.

"What has happened this season is a remarkable achievement but there is nothing with the team or set-up that suggests it's a one-off event. The key for us is that it's sustainable," he declared.

Chelsea can therefore be expected to invest in at least one world-class player this summer, with Steven Gerrard among those linked with Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho, who is also after a left-back, has nevertheless accepted that spending will be controlled - at least in comparison to the past two years, in which more than Ł200 million has been invested.

Chelsea may have announced a record club sponsorship deal of Ł50million over five years with electronics firm Samsung.

But the club are committed to breaking even within that period, rather than continuing to rely on the largesse of multi-millionaire owner Roman Abramovich.

Kenyon added: "We have plans and parameters and Jose is very comfortable and happy with those. Clearly, there are two aspects to this company becoming profitable - one is the ability to grow sales and the other one is to control costs.

"Everyone has bought into that, including Jose, and we're committed to our academy system and youth structure. Jose feels whether it's Ł1million or Ł10million being spent, he needs to justify it. Each player is one of 24 and he needs them to perform well.

"It's not about pressure (from Abramovich). He's a serious businessman and is committed completely. But although there is a lot of flexibility, we all think, for the long-term, that Chelsea has to reach a position whereby it's run right as a business, as well as on the field.

"I don't think that one is in conflict with the other. It's about the long-term sustainability of Chelsea FC."

Mourinho clearly showed that restraint when he failed to trump Liverpool's bid for Leeds' emerging keeper Scott Carson earlier this season.

However, it is hard to imagine the Chelsea purse-strings would not be loosened if Andrei Shevchenko or Thierry Henry became available.

Funds will nevertheless also be raised by the sale of existing players, including Hernan Crespo and Juan Sebastian Veron, as well as presumably Geremi and Carlo Cudicini.

As for Crespo and Veron, who are both on loan in Italy, Kenyon revealed: "Those serious discussions will be started in earnest in the next few weeks."

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Kenyon: More success to come at Stamford Bridge

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