Avram Grant faces the embarrassment of sitting in the dug-out for
next Wednesday's Champions League match in Valencia without being
allowed to coach his players.
This is because the Israel Coaches Association has pledged to block
his application for a Pro Licence ahead of the game.
Under UEFA Champions League guidelines, the new Chelsea chief needs
the licence to coach from the touchline, but sources at the ICA
have disclosed that Grant 'faces hostility' after making an
application two weeks ago a full week before Jose Mourinho's
departure.
Grant did not take the Pro Licence course when he was manager of
Israel and they see no reason to grant special dispensation simply
because he is the manager of Chelsea.
Stamford Bridge chiefs claim they have applied to UEFA for special
dispensation for Grant to be in the technical area for next week's
clash with Valencia, but there are no guarantees that it will be
accepted.
UEFA's technical director Andy Roxburgh has told friends that Grant
does not have the necessary qualifications to coach Chelsea and
that the chances of him being given permission to instruct his
players are slim.
Assistant manager Steve Clarke who does possess all the top
coaching qualifications would have to act as go-between.
ICA chief Amnon Raz met Roxburgh in London on Tuesday to finalise
the details of a new Hebrew-language UEFA PRO training
course.
Raz said: 'Andy Roxburgh has today approved the upgrading of senior
Israeli coaches through the UEFA PRO certificate course, starting
May 2008. It is clear that for Grant at Chelsea this creates a
problem.'
