Exclusive: Chelsea fans fear Spurs-like spiral as FA Cup final protests planned | OneFootball

Not A Project CFC believe future relegation battle is possible as they prepare Wembley opposition to BlueCo ownership

Not A Project CFC, a supporter movement protesting against Chelsea’s ownership, fear the Blues could end up in a similar situation to relegation-threatened Tottenham if things do not change at the club.

Rosenior was relieved of his duties in late April after only three months, with Chelsea having lost five successive Premier League games without scoring for the first time since 1912.

Just 107 days after succeeding Enzo Maresca, it was widely agreed that Rosenior’s position was untenable. Yet frustration among supporters has only grown in the weeks following his departure.

Supporter protests against BlueCo started against Brentford in January before Chelsea and Strasbourg fans marched together ahead of the 1-0 defeat by Manchester United during the final days of Rosenior’s reign.

Not A Project CFC then hired a ‘BlueCo Out’ truck ahead of Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final tie against Leeds - Calum McFarlane’s first game back as interim manager.

This weekend, they will march on Wembley ahead of the FA Cup final against Manchester City.

Not A Project CFC are determined to prove that their protests are not a reaction to results on the pitch, and believe that the FA Cup final - a high point in an otherwise dismal season - is the right occasion to get their point across.

“After our last protest, the club spoke about self-reflection. We've had no communication with regard to what the outcome of that self-reflection was, and that's a problem, an ongoing problem with the club, the lack of accountability shown, lack of communication with fans,” a spokesperson for Not A Project CFC told Standard Sport.

Protest: Chelsea fans are unhappy with the running of the club by BlueCo

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“In terms of the protest at the weekend, the coverage of the FA Cup is enormous. We felt that it was too big an occasion (not to stage a protest), and we don't want to give the impression that we only protest when results are bad, because this isn't results-driven.

“There are a lot of issues at the club. The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST) survey (published in January) showed that there is discontent among the fanbase in lots and lots of different areas - matchday atmosphere, ticketing access, pricing.”

The survey published by the CST, which received 4,000 anonymous responses from their members, cited a lack of confidence in the decision-making and sporting direction of the club. Not A Project CFC say they have “no faith” that the changes wanted will be made.

“As a group, we have entirely lost faith that the club is willing and able to listen and to compromise,” they said.

I genuinely believe that relegation is possible for a club like Chelsea

Not A Project CFC spokesperson

Chelsea look set to miss out on European football for next term unless they win the FA Cup on Saturday. In a season where they were expected to push on after lifting the Club World Cup last summer, there has been yet more turmoil.

Uncertainty around who will be the club’s next permanent manager, the futures of key players such as Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer, and the implications of recording the biggest pre-tax loss in Premier League history, have left supporters increasingly worried and frustrated.

Not A Project CFC say there are striking parallels to be drawn between the direction of travel at Chelsea and that of their fierce rivals Tottenham, who, 12 months on from lifting the Europa League, are battling against relegation to the second division for the first time in nearly 50 years.

“The sporting directors have to go, it's as simple as that,” they said. “Our ultimate aim would be to highlight to the investors that this project is not working. It has to end now.

“As much as I have found it amusing watching Tottenham Hotspur at times this season, I do agree with the sentiment among our fanbase that that could very easily be us in the next few years. I genuinely believe that relegation is possible for a club like us.

“I thought it was absolutely impossible when BlueCo bought the club, but now I see it as very possible.”