Chelsea's switch to new Stamford Bridge delayed until at least 2024 as redevelopment plans hit set-back

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Chelsea will not move into the new Stamford Bridge until at least 2024 after club chiefs revealed the extent of further delays on their stadium redevelopment plans.

The Premier League champions had initially outlined a move-in date of the 2021-22 season for their new stadium, but will now not even depart their current home until 2020.

In May, Sportsmail revealed how Chelsea faced an extended four-year exile from Stamford Bridge while redevelopment works take place – most likely at Wembley, although they are still looking at as many as eight sites – and the club have now confirmed those plans.

Chelsea will not move into the new Stamford Bridge until at least 2024 after further set-backs

Club chiefs confirmed more delays to the proposed move to redevelop the historic ground

A meeting with supporters’ groups, attended by board members Bruce Buck and Marina Granovskaia, also saw Chelsea admit they would spend another two-and-a-half seasons at their existing 41,000-seat home.

With those schedule changes, the Blues’ first game at their £500million, 60,000-capacity new ground has been pencilled in for the opening fixture of the 2024-25 season.

Demolition of the current stadium’s surroundings and building work on the adjacent railway line is planned to start next year.

At a meeting with the club’s select Fans Forum earlier this season, a member of Chelsea’s stadium project team said: ‘We hope, subject to approvals, to start (work) in the third quarter of 2018 including the museum and health club being demolished, with work on the railway lines starting in 2019.

‘There will be at least two further seasons here after this one.’

While citing Sportsmail’s June 2015 description of the new Stamford Bridge as a ‘Cathedral of Football’, club officials added that there was still the potential for further delays.

A member of Chelsea’s stadium project team added: ‘The local authority has been very helpful.

The Stamford Bridge site is awkward as it is penned in by rail lines to the north and the east

‘We have legal matters and statutory approvals to resolve before any works can commence and this may take some time but is not unique to this project.’

Chelsea are understood not to be concerned by the planned 2024 move-in date, with their initial schedule always thought to have been optimistic.

They have already secured planning permission from the local council and the approval of Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

Wembley is Chelsea’s most-likely destination during their four years away from Stamford Bridge, with the club having sought advice from Tottenham on the pitfalls of a spell at the national stadium.

Spurs are calling Wembley their home while White Hart Lane is redeveloped this season, but Chelsea are facing four years on the road.

Club officials say they have looked at as many as eight different temporary venues – all within London’s M25 ring road, while also canvassing supporters’ opinion on the move.

Stamford Bridge chiefs are increasingly resigned to four years away from their home ground

Sportsmail understands West Ham’s London Stadium is among the venues Chelsea chiefs have checked in on in recent months.

Wembley, Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium and Tottenham’s unfinished new ground are the only other London stadium with capacities that match up to that of Stamford Bridge.

A member of the stadium project team added that Chelsea: ‘have lots of time to make a decision and none of the potential venues need more than a year’s notice’.

A decision on how to pay the £500m cost of the new stadium has also yet to be made, although reports this week indicated that owner Roman Abramovich has discussed commercial deals with Far East backers as a funding route.