Chelsea Football Club have announced that they will be removing the full coach subsidy for away domestic travel – in a move that has angered Chelsea supporters.
[metabet_core_side_odds_tile query=”soe/chelsea” size=”350×300″ site_id=”lastwordonsports”]
‘Appalling Decision’ Angers Chelsea Supporters Trust
Breaking the British transfer record twice in a year is fine, but a £10 subsidised coach is where Chelsea draws the line
▪️ Chelsea to remove domestic away coach subsidy
▪️ CST to subsidise coach for #BOUCHE to highlight the appalling decision & urges CFC to reconsider cutback pic.twitter.com/ta1uZYksYS
— Chelsea Supporters’ Trust⭐️⭐️ (@ChelseaSTrust) August 29, 2023
Away Travel Removed for Financial Reasons
The move by the Chelsea board to cancel subsidised away travel has angered the Chelsea Supporters Trust. The CST have branded the move an “appaling decision.” By stopping this service, supporters – will have to pay considerably more for away travel. According to the update from the supporters’ trust, they and coach users made representations to the club for the service to remain – but the club have decided the £10 per coach user is not “financially sustainable” to subsidise.
Read More: Chelsea Unveil ‘Incredible’ Player as Newest Summer Signing
Chelsea Supporters’ Trust disclosed in their update – that they met with club officials earlier in August to discuss the rumours that the club would stop the coach subsidy for the 2023/24 season. The Stamford Bridge club clarified that they hadn’t made a decision regarding the future of the scheme – but did confirm they would be looking at the subsidy budget. During the meeting, it was made clear to the club that many people would be affected by the decision to end the subsidy scheme, including young supporters, vulnerable supporters, and people with mobility issues.
What Happens Next?
Those who have used the service communicated to the club that the coach subsidy must remain in some way, and if it was stopped, many supporters would be priced out of attending away games. Chelsea Supporters Trust again met with club officials on Friday 25 to communicate that their decision to remove this service in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis was unacceptable.
Read More: Journalist Reveals Three Exciting Players Chelsea Are Now Targeting to Increase Firepower
Chelsea Supporters Trust have decided to part-fund the away travel for the upcoming league game against Bournemouth. The Trust explain this will help highlight the shocking decision by the club and for them to reconsider stopping the subsidy scheme, placing a further financial burden on many supporters.
Image Credit: Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0
