LONDON — The decision had been made by the man who has changed the face of English football — some might say world football.
Roman Abramovich, Russian oligarch and billionaire owner of Chelsea FC, called an urgent meeting of his right-hand man Eugene Tenebaum and chairman Bruce Buck. A conference call was made to chief executive Peter Kenyon, who was on holiday in the West Indies.
There was little discussion, because what Abramovich says, always goes. One of the perks of being super-rich.