Chelsea could lose three key backroom personnel following ownership change

Marina Granovskaia, Bruce Buck and Peter Cech could be set for Chelsea departure

According to the Express, Roman Abramovich‘s intention of selling Chelsea could have further ramifications, with club director Marina Granovskaia, chairman Bruce Buck and technical and performance analyst and former shot-stopper Petr Cech rumoured to leave the club.

The long time Chelsea owner announced last Wednesday that the club was up for sale, following calls for him to step down following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Russian businessman has had a glittering reign as the owner of the Blues, having won all the possible trophies in these nineteen years at the helm.

Marina Granovskaia, Bruce Buck and Peter Cech could be set for Chelsea departure.
Abramovich to sell Chelsea after 19 years at the helm

According to The Athletic (subscription required), the change in ownership could lead to a huge change in the administrative structure of the club with the three top staff also set to follow Abramovich out of Stamford Bridge.

Club director and transfer chief Marina Granovskaia has been instrumental in recruiting players for the youth and first teams for over a decade and her exit will be a huge problem for the Blues. To find someone to replace someone like her, who has had so much success is almost impossible and it remains to be seen as to how the new owners go about it.

The next person who is expected to leave is the club’s chairman Bruce Buck. The American has been in office for Chelsea for 18 years now and has been a part of many glorious moments. Former Blues shot-stopper and the club’s technical and performance analyst Petr Cech is also a candidate for the exit, despite the fact that he only took the role in the recent past.

Marina Granovskaia, Bruce Buck and Peter Cech could be set for Chelsea departure.
Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia has been instrumental to Chelsea’s success
(Copyright: Andy Rowland)

What does this mean for Chelsea?

Roman Abramovich’s 19-year reign as an owner at Stamford Bridge is coming to an end and there is no denying the fact that it has been one of the best reigns seen in English football. The Russian tycoon was very ambitious with Chelsea, willing to pump in the money to make Chelsea one of the best teams in the world.

Abramovich’s exit could be a big loss for Chelsea, but also losing the pillars of the project like Marina and Bruce could be an even bigger blow. There is no clarity on who could take over as the new owners at Stamford Bridge, and if his ideologies are dissimilar to that of Abramovich’s, the Blues could be in for a tough transition period.

Chelsea are potentially facing a defensive exodus in the summer, with club captain Azpilicueta, Christensen and Rudiger rumoured to leave on free transfers and having a person of Granovskaia’s calibre and experience would have been essential for the Blues to be smart in the market and procure the right replacements.

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If Granovskaia were to leave, Chelsea will need to be very shrewd in finding an able replacement to fill the big shoes and someone who can navigate them through this difficult period. A lot of work is to be done at Stamford Bridge already, and the ownership change has the potential to increase it manifolds.