Avram Grant has become a laughing stock among his own Chelsea stars
who are backing him to get the boot by Christmas.
To add to the crisis, respected coach Steve Clarke will QUIT the
Blues in a fortnight.
Chelsea's season hit rock-bottom yesterday as Grant had to watch a
0-0 draw at home to Fulham in which Didier Drogba was sent off,
John Terry suffered a fractured cheekbone and the players were
booed by their own fans.
t was the Blues' FOURTH successive Premier League game without a
win and Clarke has grown disenchanted following Jose Mourinho's
shock departure and will walk out during next month's international
break.
That will increase the pressure on Grant, whose training methods
have been described by one senior player as amateurish'.
"Under Mourinho, training was exciting and inspirational, it was
different every day," said the player. "But since he left, training
has been amateurish. In one session this week we were asked to get
the ball and just dribble round a cone.
"Some of the players said they hadn't been asked to do that since
they were 14 years old.
"There's no way Avram can last, he'll be gone by Christmas because
the players just aren't having him at all."
The mood of the squad will not be helped by the news the popular
Clarke will leave after next month's match at Bolton.
The Scot is the last link to Mourinho and his departure will be a
huge blow to a club reeling from the shockwaves surrounding the
controversial exit.
In his two spells at the Bridge, Clarke has built a reputation for
loyalty to the Chelsea cause.
Yet he was shocked at the way Mourinho was ousted and concerned the
arrival of a new backroom staff would leave him side-lined. One
source said: "Steve loves Chelsea but he feels he has just reached
the end of the line at the club.
"He thinks the time is right to try his hand as a manager."
Clarke's departure is yet another blow to Grant, who has come under
fire from critics and the League Managers' Association for not
possessing a UEFA Pro licence, the minimum qualification needed to
manage in the Premier League.
The Israeli's short reign has been dogged by rumours of turmoil
behind the scenes with Drogba the most recent of Chelsea's big
names to voice their frustration at Mourinho's exit.
