Exclusive: Roman 'is staying put'

Whether he is truly committed for the long term remains to be seen, but the club moved swiftly to swat away the irritant of a Sunday broadsheet report that Abramovich’s representatives were taking soundings from potential buyers in the Gulf, including a meeting with the Saudi royal family.

Not so, claim Chelsea, who said they will launch libel proceedings today. A club statement described the claims as “false” and added: “Mr Abramovich has already made quite clear, through the directors of Chelsea, that he has no intention of doing so [selling the club] and that neither he nor any of his appointed representatives has been pursuing any such course of action.”

The Daily Express understands Chelsea did recently despatch representatives to the Middle East, but their brief was to talk to one of their sponsors, ‘platinum partner’ Etihad Airways of the United Arab Emirates. The airline agreed a seven-figure sponsorship of the club in 2007.

There is little doubt that Abramovich’s regime has started counting the pennies at Stamford Bridge. The club’s scouting network has been slashed; no spending has been envisaged in the January transfer window – even players’ match ticket allocations have been cut.

There have also been strong suggestions Abramovich’s personal fortune has been trimmed to the tune of £3bn, cutting his wealth from £11.7bn to less than £9bn.

But the club insist this does not mean he is losing interest in Chelsea, bought for £60million in 2004. He also guaranteed debts estimated at £80m at that time and has since underwritten loans of some £500m.

It was not only the Sunday broadsheet that got Chelsea on the defensive. Before attending Chelsea’s dramatic match with Stoke on Saturday, chief executive Peter Kenyon almost anticipated the following day’s headlines by reassuring supporters at a fans’ forum that his boss was not about to sell up.

Kenyon told them: “There has been a lot of rumour and speculation surrounding Chelsea and the owner’s commitment to the club.

“I can assure you on his behalf that this is totally unfounded and anything else you might read about this is rubbish. Chelsea is not for sale. The owner has not and is not looking to sell his interest in the club and he remains as committed as ever.”