In response, Tom Ricketts said he was grateful for the feedback he received from fans and that “it is now up to us to redouble our efforts and clearly lay out a vision for our stewardship of the club with diversity and inclusion at its heart.”

The sale of the club that has been owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich since 2003 is offering a rare chance to buy a prized asset in Europe’s richest football division. The Raine Group, the New York-based merchant bank handling the sale for Abramovich, has been weighing offers submitted by last Friday’s deadline. 

In addition to talking with fans, some bidders are consulting with politicians.

The consortium led by former Guggenheim Partners executive Todd Boehly would want to meet with Greg Hands, the Conservative Party lawmaker of the local constituency, as well as with officials from the U.K.’s Department for Digital, Cultural, Media and Sport, according to a person familiar with the matter. The group is planning meetings with opposition members too, the person said.

A spokesperson for Boehly didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Hands has already said in a tweet last weekend that he had a “useful call” with Tom Ricketts.

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