Like Villas-Boas, Chelsea remain “fully supportive” of their captain. Some criticism has been directed at their chief executive, Ron Gourlay, for writing the letter requesting Terry’s trial be adjourned until July. “We didn’t ‘insist’,’’ explained Steve Atkins, Chelsea’s head of communications. “We submitted a letter asking for consideration for a business case for Chelsea Football Club and for consideration to make it easier to present our players if requested.’’ It was the substantial number of witnesses that Terry’s camp plan to call, including executives, Villas-Boas and team-mates, that was behind Gourlay’s request for the trial to take place in the close season. The adjournment forced the FA to act.