Chelsea give Grant money to spend but he'll have to work
alongside Hiddink
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will back new manager Avram
Grant to bring in multi-million-pound talent in the New Year, with Barcelona
superstar Ronaldinho the principal target.
But Grant is likely to have to work alongside Russia coach Guus Hiddink
after the Dutchman revealed that he had held detailed talks with Abramovich
a week before the Russian parted company with Jose Mourinho.
Abramovich is taking more direct control of his club by compiling a team
of advisers that includes Grant, Frank Arnesen, who runs youth development
and recruitment, and Piet De Visser, the 73-year-old scout who acts as
a personal football consultant to the Russian oligarch.
According to those close to the former manager, it was this committee
of trusted lieutenants around the billionaire owner that made Mourinho's
position intolerable.
Grant, who will remain at the apex of the group, will be allowed to hire
new coaching staff. Portsmouth No 2 Tony Adams is a potential assistant,
having worked with Grant during the Israeli's spell as technical director
at Fratton Park last year.
According to a source close to Grant, Abramovich will 'throw millions
at him' in the transfer window, in stark contrast to the refusal to spend
big money in the last six months of Mourinho's reign.
Hiddink has moved a step closer towards being added to the staff next
summer or sooner, if Abramovich can negotiate a tricky political situation
in Russia, where he helps to bankroll the Dutchman's contract to coach
the national team.
That runs out next year but although the Russian FA expect Hiddink to
sign another deal until 2010, it is understood that at the end of last
week he told his current employers that he may not be able to extend his
contract.
Hiddink, who met Abramovich while the Russia team were in London to play
England, said yesterday: 'We had a good meeting in London. I won't go
into details. He has a very clear vision on the future and development
of football.
'The Chelsea situation is something I won't touch right now. I am concentrating
on the Russian national team. We have to qualify and I know Roman finds
that very important, too, at this moment.'
The Dutchman will not be able to help Chelsea until at least November,
when qualifying for the European Championship ends.
Hiddink revealed the meeting in his Dutch newspaper column last weekend,
writing: 'Roman Abramovich and I met again around the England match. We
had good talks and discussions. I always get on well with Roman, but I
am not going to give away all the details from that meeting. However,
one or two things will become clear in the near future and I will be able
to talk about it then.'
Hiddink has also pointedly moved recently to quash the perception that
he could not work alongside Arnesen at Chelsea, because of their professional
differences at PSV Eindhoven.
Hiddink said: 'I have never had a personal problem with Frank Arnesen.
Our relationship was good and it is still good. I could work with him
again.
'There was a point when it was a strange situation at PSV. I was responsible
for the results of the team but I did not have enough input and authority
when it came to buying and selling players.'
Hiddink's revelations, however, do not mean that Grant will be removed.
He remains integral to Abramovich's vision of how the club will be run
and will be given a clear run to recruit staff.
,
23rd September 2007
Russian ladies dream about happy marriage.
Click on a photo...
