Are you Av-ing a laugh: Grant has rejected Roman
Abramovich's request to rejoin Chelsea this summer
Avram Grant has rejected Roman Abramovich's invitation
to return to Chelsea
despite being offered more money than he stands to earn as
manager of West
Ham.
Grant has snubbed the director of football role he occupied at
Stamford Bridge before replacing Jose Mourinho as manager in
September 2007.
Despite being sacked by Abramovich two years ago after Chelsea
missed out on the Premier League title to Manchester
United before losing on penalties to Sir Alex Ferguson's
side in the Champions League final, Grant remains close to the
Russian billionaire.
Abramovich was prepared to top the £1.3million a year
West Ham are offering Grant to replace Gianfranco Zola.
But Grant has opted to remain in the dug-out rather than take
another behind-the-scenes post.
Grant is expected to be unveiled as West Ham manager next week.
He was also wanted by Celtic, and his
name was linked with Dutch champions FC Twente following Steve
McClaren's switch to German side Wolfsburg.
Upton spark: Avram Grant is expected to replace
Gianfranco Zola as new West Ham boss in the near future
Grant's former Chelsea No 2, Steve Clarke, is expected
to leave Upton Park once agreement is reached on his £1.2m-a-year
deal, which has three years to run.
West Ham legend Alvin Martin is expected to join the coaching
staff.
Grant is thought to be keen on taking a number of Pompey players,
including David James, to Upton Park, although the England keeper
has expressed an interest in the Portsmouth manager's job.