Bates assures Terry he has a blue future at Stamford Bridge

KEN BATES moved to quell player unrest at Chelsea over contracts by revealing there will be a new deal waiting for John Terry when he returns from South Africa.

The Chelsea chairman's stance was boosted by club captain Marcel Desailly declaring that he may continue playing beyond the end of his contact in 2004.

Terry claimed this week he had not heard anything from Chelsea about his future despite being told the club would renew contract talks at the end of the season. He also admitted to being flattered by speculation linking him with Arsenal.