Chelsea fans have expressed their delight following the news the Ricketts-led consortium has withdrawn its bid to buy the club.
The Chicago Cubs owners along with their partners opted not to submit a final bid for the Stamford Bridge side, with the consortium members understood to be unable to agree the final composition of their offer.
Cubs owners Tom and Laura Ricketts had partnered with US billionaires Ken Griffin and Dan Gilbert on a cash-only bid to buy the Blues.
Final bids were due to be submitted to New York merchant bank the Raine Group on Thursday, but the Ricketts-led group has now withdrawn its candidacy.