ALEX FERGUSON is a phenomenon. Close to his 12th English title, in his fourth Champions League final, 25 seasons at the same club.

CARLO ANCELOTTI has laughed off Frank Lampard’s claim the current atmosphere at Chelsea was like the final days under Luiz Felipe Scolari and revealed he had spoken to Roman Abramovich about the club’s miserable run.

CHELSEA have avoided a lengthy legal wrangle by agreeing compensation with Ray Wilkins less than three weeks after controversially axing him.

Ray Wilkins and Chelsea today reached what both described as an "amicable" resolution regarding his controversial departure from the club.

AS THE Premier League’s top five brace themselves for a hectic festive schedule, matches that could go a long way to deciding the destination of the title, statisticians are offering up a word of warning to current leaders Manchester United.

Frank Arnesen will step down as Chelsea's sporting director at the end of this season, the club have confirmed.

TO lose one of the world’s great managers may be regarded as a misfortune.

CARLO Ancelotti woke up in west London yesterday morning and peered under his bed for the black cat he’d trodden on.

CARLO ANCELOTTI has declared his intention to remain at Chelsea for the next 10 years.

CARLO ANCELOTTI insists Chelsea are on the same level as Manchester United despite Harry Redknapp’s dig at the Blues ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

PETER KENYON, who announced his departure from Chelsea yesterday, left behind a mystery which even Dan Brown would struggle to decipher. Did he jump or was he pushed?

Manchester City’s talented teenager Daniel Sturridge is to join Chelsea this summer but the exact fee will be decided by a tribunal.

WHAT must have Jose Mourinho thought, looking at the team which he moulded into warriors, capitulate in such a pathetic and sadly predictable manner?

ROBINHO’S agent claims the presence of Luiz Felipe Scolari at Stamford Bridge is tempting the Real Madrid forward to ponder a move to Chelsea.

Robinho’s agent claims the presence of Luiz Felipe Scolari at Stamford Bridge is tempting the Real Madrid forward to ponder a move to Chelsea.

Chelsea have stepped up their interest in Real Madrid forward Robinho after sporting director Frank Arnesen met with the player’s agent.

A host of names have already been linked with the Chelsea manager’s job even though Avram Grant was not sacked until yesterday.

Martin Jol has blamed Tottenham's summer transfer policy for the club's current plight and his own exit from the club.

Ajax coach Henk ten Cate is being strongly linked with a move to Stamford Bridge after Chelsea confirmed they are looking at the possibility of appointing a foreign coach to work alongside Avram Grant.

LAST FRIDAY, Avram Grant welcomed some friends who had come to watch Israel’s Euro 2008 qualifier against England to Chelsea’s newly-built training ground at Cobham.

Chelsea moved swiftly today following the shock departure of Jose Mourinho as they announced that director of football Avram Grant and assistant manager Steve Clarke will take charge of the first team.

Jose Mourinho today left Chelsea in a move which has shocked football – but the London club are already believed to be preparing to name a replacement.

Former Chelsea player Didier Deschamps has emerged as one of the frontrunners to replace Jose Mourinho as manager at Stamford Bridge.

Florent Malouda will join the Chelsea squad in America when the formalities of his move from Lyon are completed – but Michael Ballack will miss the start of the pre-season tour as he recovers from ankle surgery.

Avram Grant has been appointed director of football at Chelsea and will also sit on the football club board at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea look set to add to the signing of Oldham starlet Danny Philliskirk by landing Claudio Pizarro from Bayern Munich on a free transfer.

Jose Mourinho’s failure publicly to commit himself to the club beyond the end of this season will have alarmed even the most ardent Chelsea fan.

Chelsea were today making no official comment following reports that Jose Mourinho is to quit the club at the end of the season.

Valencia president Juan Soler insists Chelsea have not made an offer for Spain striker David Villa and warned any interested clubs they will have to start negotiations at €150m.

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is standing up for close friend Sam Allardyce after the Bolton boss was the subject of ‘bung’ allegations in Tuesday night’s BBC Panorama programme.

Chelsea and Liverpool face an investigation by the Football Association and Premier League into BBC Panorama's allegations that they breached regulations in trying to tempt an England youth player away from Middlesbrough.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce tonight insisted he will “fight” allegations by the BBC’s Panorama programme that he has received illegal payments.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce was at the centre of allegations about illegal payments in football made by the BBC’s Panorama programme tonight.

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck insists the club will be keen to buy Freddy Adu “if he’s as good as people say he is”.

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has warned the Football Association to forget making an approach for Jose Mourinho as they begin the hunt for the next England manager.

CHELSEA chief executive Peter Kenyon insisted the club remain on course to break even by 2010 after posting record pre-tax losses of £140 million (€204m).

Chelsea’s unlimited use of Roman Abramovich’s chequebook has not taken away the unpredictability of football, according to Sepp Blatter.

Jose Mourinho has opted to maintain a dignified silence following criticism of his handling of Dutch winger Arjen Robben by Holland coach Marco van Basten.

Hibernian and Chelsea have confirmed early negotiations over a future link-up between the two clubs.

Frank Arnesen insists he does not feel guilty for walking out on Tottenham for rivals Chelsea.

CHELSEA will not stop splashing the cash on big-name players even though Frank Arnesen has taken control over the youth set-up at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea will not stop splashing the cash on big-name players even though Frank Arnesen has taken control over the youth set-up at Stamford Bridge.

Ajax claim Chelsea are trailing two of the Dutch club’s rising stars.