Boston Celtics owner Stephen Pagliuca said NBA president Larry Tannenbaum and former Chelsea captain John Terry had joined his bid to buy the Premier League club.
In a statement on Wednesday, Pagliuca said Tannenbaum, owner of Canada’s Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), has become a “co-managing partner” in the Chelsea bid.
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MLSE owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and Toronto FC.
“Larry is a world-class individual who is highly regarded in the global sports community, and his expertise in sports governance, long-term perspective and expertise in civic construction are tremendous assets to our group,” Pagliuca said.
Pagliuca also said the “True Blues Consortium” of fans and former players, including Terry, was also behind his bid.
“The group welcomes the endorsement and support of the True Blues Consortium, an organization dedicated to Chelsea and focused on representing the club’s fan interests,” the statement said.
Pagliuca spoke publicly for the first time about his bid for Chelsea on Monday, when he vowed to make the club “a regular winner”.
“This process has been a worrying time for the football club and the fans,” he said. “Throughout my life and career, my ethos has always been to act calmly and with integrity and let my actions and results speak loudly.
“However, it is necessary to clarify and reassure supporters about our bidding pool and its commitments, to underscore how seriously we take our potential responsibility to Chelsea.
“Later this week we will be making a substantial and credible offer – one that we expect will meet the requirements and regulations of the Premier League, the UK government and UEFA – and pledge to honor our commitment to credibility and the good stewardship of Chelsea Football Club from day one.”