And the ‘Classless Cronies of the Year award’ goes to...

AND who said that Chelsea didn’t win anything this season? Our board have once again collected the ‘Classless Cronies of the Year award’ — even with stiff opposition from Sullivan, Gold and Brady.

Couldn’t they have waited until the day after the end of the season and told Carlo Ancelotti privately at a time and place where he could have prepared a statement himself.

Didn’t we owe him just that respect? Whether you were an Ancelotti fan or not, one thing we can all agree on is that he was an honourable man who won praise for the way he conducted himself even during the prolonged periods of conjecture over his position.

So what a disgraceful, brutal and shameful way to treat a man that made history at Chelsea Football Club.

At one time or another we may have all questioned his decisions or choices, but surely the double last season and the number of mitigating circumstances in this campaign should have bought him one more year?

He had vital squad players sold last summer while Benayoun, Alex, Essien and Lampard were ruled out for long spells due to injury (with the latter two below form when they returned).

He had our most important striker sidelined with malaria. He had a couple of other players demonstrating extensive poor form and had a high profile striker foisted upon him mid-season. Oh and his right-hand man was summarily dismissed.

Ancelotti made mistakes — substitutions and team selections often had many of us scratching our heads and his motivational skills were often called into question.

The Champions League exit and the prolonged mid-season slump were his undoings. We are all too aware of Abramovich’s obsession with the Champions League and the dip was just too concentrated — it attracted too much procrastination from journalists and fans alike. If we had matched United throughout and been pipped at the post to the league title, I think many would have been more forgiving — yet the result would have been the same.

We would have still finished second — but maybe some would have found it more acceptable.

Moving on — where now? Or more pointedly “who”? The smart money is on Hiddink as Director of Football and Marco Van Basten as manager. But what has Van Basten achieved within management? He was a failure both at national and club level and I find it incredible that he is even a consideration. Andriy Shevchenko was in the directors’ box with Abramovich the other week. Perhaps he is missing the bunkers and fairways of Wentworth? Other rumours suggest Zola will be bought in to appease the fans. More fool him if he accepts a role within this circus.

And what of the players? There are some who owe Ancelotti an apology. They should take some of the responsibility for “our performances falling short of expectations”.

Perhaps Abramovich should come down from his ivory tower sometimes and speak to the fans and not the advisors who all seem to be searching for ways to position their snouts into the already crowded trough that is football.

Winning is not the be all and end all of everything, not for most football fans anyway — otherwise we would all support the same three or four clubs. I am glad to see the back of this season and greet the summer break with a sigh of relief — but some seasons are just like that.

There will be the usual comings and goings during the summer break and the majority of us will return next season with renewed vigour and the usual optimistic mantra that “this is going to be our year”.

Thanks to all who have read my rants and musings over the past season, and to all those that have taken the time and trouble to write to me. It’s always much appreciated. Who knows what next season will bring, but one thing is for certain — I will be there with the boys in blue come what may.