Chelsea have appointed Italy coach Antonio Conte as their new first-team head coach, the club have announced.

Antonio Conte has been appointed Chelsea's first-team head coach on a three-year contract.

Guus Hiddink has edged towards a second stint as interim manager at Chelsea after holding talks with Stamford Bridge bosses.

Aston Villa 1 Swansea City 2: Within hours of Tim Sherwood’s sacking as Villa boss, the club slipped to the bottom of the Premier League, following Sunderland’s 3-0 victory over Newcastle.

As John Terry confirmed a contract extension for another season, the Chelsea Pitch Owners hosted an evening with the Blues captain. Chelsea fan Trizia Fiorellino was there.

In this week’s column, Kehlan looks at rejection and why, as a business owner, it just comes with the territory

Gary Lineker thinks England manager Roy Hodgson got his tactics completely wrong at the World Cup.

Dermot O'Leary hosts highlights from a celebration of the Irish music tradition and its dialogue with Britain in the presence of the president of Ireland and the Prince and Princess Michael of Kent at the Royal Albert Hall on BBC4 at 8pm.

Ray Wilkins has revealed he suffered from depression during his playing and coaching career and received treatment for the illness at the UK's Sporting Chance clinic.

Support for same-sex marriage; a new scheme aimed at getting long-term unemployed back to work; Ukrainian politics descends into mass brawl and ex-Chelsea captain's battle with depression revealed, in the Lunchtime Report.

New Fulham manager Felix Magath has warned now is “not the time to dream” and vowed there is only hard work ahead as the Cottagers battle to stay in the Barclays Premier League.

Former Fulham coach Ray Wilkins has announced he is struggling with ulcerative colitis in order to dispel rumours of a drinking problem.

Former Fulham coach Ray Wilkins has announced he is struggling with ulcerative colitis – the same condition afflicting Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher – in order to dispel rumours of a drinking problem.

The future of Fulham’s backroom staff should become clearer on Monday as newly appointed first-team manager Felix Magath looks to build on a constructive first day at the office.

Ray Wilkins has become the latest high-profile member of Rene Meulensteen’s backroom staff after being named as the new assistant head coach of the Barclays Premier League strugglers.

Manchester United manager David Moyes believes Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli should be the one under the microscope if Ashley Young dived to win a penalty in Spain on Wednesday.

Former Liverpool star Dietmar Hamann has branded Ashley Young “worse than Luis Suarez” over his diving antics.

A number of former Manchester United players have accused Ashley Young of diving in the wake of last night's 0-0 draw with Real Sociedad.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich deserves a “pat on the back” for bringing Jose Mourinho back to the club, according to former Blues favourite Ron Harris.

There was a recent report in the Spanish press which suggested that on a visit to a Real Madrid satellite club to give a talk to coaches Jose Mourinho produced a photograph of Chelsea on an open-topped bus.

PREMIER LEAGUE

Scotland boss Gordon Strachan believes the Old Firm clubs will be part of a European super league in 10 years’ time.

Former Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins has revealed that club owner Roman Abramovich is a “big fan” of Watford boss Gianfranco Zola.

Just as he knew best about most things, it seems Shankly was right again.

Former Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins has branded the club “wrong” not to offer Lampard a new contract.

Ray Wilkins believes it is “out of the question” that Chelsea would sack under-fire new manager Rafael Benitez before the end of the season.

John Terry’s disciplinary hearing will go into a third day today as the Chelsea skipper continues to contest a charge of using racist language.

West Brom are to step up their bid to secure head coach Roy Hodgson’s successor after a month of interviewing and sounding out potential candidates, it is understood.

Ray Wilkins today leapt to the defence of Chelsea’s players in the wake of Andre Villas-Boas’ sacking.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was supportive but unsurprised after hearing he had outlasted another title-chasing boss in the shape of Andre Villas-Boas.

Yesterday’s result at White Hart Lane suggests there is more to come.

Former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has reiterated his desire to work in English football again.

Everton 0 QPR 1

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien will discover over the coming days the severity of his latest knee problem.

CHELSEA face an anxious wait for an update on the fitness of Michael Essien after the Ghana midfielder sustained a knee injury.

NEW Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas can expect to be left alone to get on with his job, according to former Blues boss Avram Grant.

Ray Wilkins says Andre Villas-Boas’ biggest challenge as Chelsea manager will be to win over some of the high-profile names in the Stamford Bridge dressing room.

TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp yesterday ridiculed Chelsea’s bid for Luka Modric before insisting he would not entertain the thought of allowing his star midfielder to leave this summer.

JI-SUNG PARK, Anderson and Michael Owen will hope goals scored against Blackpool add impetus to their Champions League final chances but it will be Darren Fletcher who gives Alex Ferguson the most sleepless nights as he ponders how many of the team that ended the league season with a 4-2 victory should start against Barcelona.

Carlo Ancelotti has insisted he will not beg to keep his job when he learns his fate as Chelsea manager next week.

Carlo Ancelotti has insisted he does not need to justify his record as Chelsea manager as the clock ticks down to what appears the end of his Stamford Bridge career.

HOW quickly some timely victories can change the big picture — especially when time is running out.

IF Roman Abramovich is looking for scapegoats for Chelsea’s disappointing season and a painful Champions League defeat against Manchester United — and of course he is — then maybe it is time to look in the mirror and consider his own part in the way the club has disintegrated over the last 12 months.

Chelsea today dismissed as “nonsense” reports that assistant manager Michael Emenalo had discussed the club’s transfer targets with journalists.