Ranieri agent welcomes pay-off pledge

Claudio Ranieri’s representative today welcomed the assurance by Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon that the club would honour their former manager’s contract “in full”.

Ranieri’s long-speculated departure was confirmed on Monday, freeing the west-London club to complete a deal to bring in Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho.

At this morning’s press conference to unveil their new manager, Kenyon admitted Chelsea were still conducting negotiations over the settlement of the remainder of Ranieri’s contract, which ran until 2007.

Under the terms, the 52-year-old was set to receive a pay-off in excess of £6m (€9m).

In a statement, his representative Jon Smith said: “I heard what Peter Kenyon said. If that means payment of all the monies and this season’s bonuses that are due under the balance of the contract, without deductions, then there is no dispute.”

Speaking at this morning’s press conference to unveil Mourinho, Kenyon had declared: “We will honour Claudio’s contract in full.

“Talks have been taking place with his representatives over the last 48 hours and there is no question that we will treat it in any other manner.

Ranieri is already attracting interest, both in England and abroad.