Those contenders fronted by British names have leveraged their bids with appeals to the Government about good governance and the implicit reassurance of being plugged into the British establishment. Ultimately it will be the Treasury’s call as to who gets Chelsea, as the department with oversight over the “Russia Regulations” sanctions. Although football is utterly consumed by its own importance, it would be fair to say that the Treasury has rather bigger issues than, say, how soon Cesar Azpilicueta gets a contract extension. Its key requirement is simple: no funds should find their way back to Abramovich.

Elsewhere, the consortiums that have looked to be the most feasible candidates have kept their counsel. Todd Boehly, Hansjorg Wyss and Jonathan Goldstein; that of the Chicago Cubs-owning Ricketts family and private equity overlord Ken Griffin; as well as Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets. There is the mysterious Saudi Media Group, which has the lustre of Saudi money with the caveat that not every Saudi has the resource of the sovereign state’s Public Investment Fund that bought Newcastle United, as Sheffield United will no doubt testify.

The fans themselves are best equipped with a healthy scepticism. Many simply want the richest and the most powerful to buttress a position built up over 19 years of success under Abramovich. Others, such as those in the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust, rightly want to see the CPO loan cancelled, a shadow board created and a “golden share” in the club to block bad decisions like the move to join the European Super League.

With change comes opportunity, and there will never be a better chance for fans to carve out a place for themselves, nor for the Government to make some demands. The window is open for but a fleeting moment and when it closes all leverage is gone. Any commitments offered by a new owner have to be secured with hoops of steel because after the deal, they tend to do whatever they want.