Mourinho has LEFT CHELSEA!!!

[Steve (Moderator)]

Get the cava out, its time to celebrate Chelseas demise!

Chelsea are set to name Avram Grant as their new manager replacing former boss Jose Mourinho, BBC Sport understands.
The Israeli, who was the club's director of football, will take charge alongside assistant Steve Clarke.

Grant will be confirmed as Stamford Bridge boss later today, BBC Sport's Garry Richardson has revealed.

The 52-year-old is a close friend of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and his summer arrival at the club came after opposition from Mourinho.


Report: Mourinho leaves Chelsea
Mourinho's first season at Chelsea
Jose Mourinho in his own words

Mourinho told Grant not to interfere with team affairs but the Israeli's position was strengthened with a seat on the board.

Grant previously held the position of technical director at Portsmouth before moving to Chelsea.

 Avram Grant is going to be as welcome as Camilla at Diana's memorial

Former Chelsea player Pat Nevin

He guided Israel to the brink of World Cup qualification in 2006, having also coached Israeli sides Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Maccabi Haifa.

The appointment has been met with general surprise and former Chelsea player Pat Nevin thinks it will only be a short-term option.

"It's an absolute certainty to be a short-term measure because they can't get the man they want," he said.

"And the man I'm sure they want is (Russia manager) Guus Hiddink. He's not going to be available until Russia are out of the competition at the Euros in 2008.

"If Avram Grant takes over the job in the mean time, and the Chelsea fans know that he was brought in and upset Jose, Avram Grant is going to be as welcome as Camilla at Diana's memorial.

"This guy is not well-loved at Chelsea. He is not going to last."

Another former Chelsea player Gavin Peacock agreed with Nevin and said Grant would need to work hard to maintain team morale.

 606: DEBATE
Abramovich is now entering the most hazardous period of his Chelsea tenure

Phil McNulty - BBC Sport 

"If you're bringing in someone like Guus Hiddink, then you're bringing in someone of great repute, as for Grant, I don't know.

"I think the heart of the team will be affected by Mourinho's departure. It will be very difficult to get the team spirit that Mourinho managed to manufacture very quickly at Chelsea."

Meanwhile Avi Cohen, the chairman of the Israeli Football Association and friend of Grant, backed the move, although he too said it came as a surprise.

"Avram Grant is very successful in Israel. He won the championship with several teams and he knows football," he said.

"Even so it is a shock that he was chosen. He had said that he had a very good position at Chelsea. He is a very good friend of Abramovich and he believes in him.

"I'm not sure that he won't be successful more than anyone else. If he has the ability he can be successful."