Ray Wilkins leaves with immediate effect

[Term-X 7,891]

Although Ancelotti praised Wilkins highly in his recently published autobiography, going so far as to say that "without him, we couldn't have won a thing", the coaching dynamics have shifted at Chelsea.

Food for thought.

[strong centreback 157]

Heard on the grapevine that apparently something happened before the Liverpool game in the changing room (which might explain the lack of performance) ray was allegedly involved and apparently this is part of the fall out, like I said its still a rumour heard it from a mates mates mate (I know lol) and they may know the full story on monday, take it for what its worth.

[Madmax 9,219]

Let's not speculate ...

[DYC. 7,542]

If there are reasons to let Ray go, fair enough. But there is something in the way how to deal with the kind of problems at Chelsea. Letting him go immidiatly and with no statements towards that ?

I don´t know, but it makes the club look like the villain, i cannot put my finger on it, but i think we´ve had these situations before.

Agree and that's the last thing this club needs.

[Mário César 1,252]

I'm shocked and very worried. After reading Carlo's auto-biography I knew the importance that Ray Wilkins had in the Premier League's conquest and now without him, everything becomes more complicated.

I hope Chelsea hires someone very efficient.

[DYC. 7,542]

Ray Wilkins to seek legal advice over 'unfair dismissal' from Chelsea

• Former first-team coach speaking to lawyers

• Doubts linger over the role of his replacement

Ray Wilkins today claimed he was the victim of "undoubtedly unfair dismissal" from Chelsea and is taking legal advice in an attempt to reach "an amicable solution".

Wilkins abruptly left his role as the first-team coach with the Premier League champions last week after being told his contract would not be renewed. He has since been replaced by Michael Emenalo, the club's former opposition scout, but the club's manager Carlo Ancelotti raised doubts about his role yesterday when he said the Nigerian would not actually be involved in coaching the first team.

The questions over what happened behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge will now only intensify as Wilkins spoke for the first time since his departure from the club.

"I am very disappointed that the board decided that I had no further contribution to make at Chelsea Football Club which has played such a huge part in my life," said Wilkins in a statement released by the League Managers Association. "Since rejoining the club, I am extremely proud to have assisted in Chelsea's recent successes. I enjoyed a fantastic relationship with the staff, players and the supporters and I now wish them all the very best for the future.

"The LMA's legal advisors are assisting me in obtaining answers to a number of questions arising from my undoubtedly unfair dismissal, and all efforts are being made to reach an amicable solution. I therefore will be making no further comment at this stage."

Wilkins returned to Stamford Bridge in September 2008, initially under Luiz Felipe Scolari, and helped the club lift the FA Cup twice as well as claiming the Premier League crown last season. His sudden departure raised eyebrows across football as he had enjoyed success not only under Scolari but subsequently with Guus Hiddink and Ancelotti.

Richard Bevan, the chief executive of the LMA, said: "Ray's departure from the club was certainly a surprise given the success that Chelsea enjoyed after his arrival, and the fact that they are reigning Premier League champions, and currently top this season's table. He has enjoyed an illustrious career to date which began with Chelsea and I share his disappointment and sadness at his leaving the club."

Wilkins's statement comes only a day after Ancelotti revealed his own unease at the situation, saying that Emenalo would be assistant first-team coach in name only as he would not actually work with the team during training sessions. The Chelsea manager made clear that the decisions to remove Wilkins and install Emenalo were not his own.

"I am not here to explain how I feel at the moment, because it is not the right moment," he said. "I'm professional, I will continue to work. I want to stay focused on my team. The club made this decision [to promote Emenalo] after the decision on Ray. But nothing has changed, for me. Emenalo has been working with me before. He started when I came here last year. He was the opposition scout and was supporting me. He's not been involved in the training, and won't be, because [first-team coach] Paul Clement has been and will remain doing that. But nothing changes. It was not my decision, but he is working with me for a year and a half anyway."

In announcing Emenalo's promotion, a Chelsea statement had said Emenalo "will continue to oversee the first team scouting operation as he makes the transition to coaching" as he needed to gain additional qualifications. But Ancelotti's comments suggest he does not want any such transition to take place.

When pressed on the matter, Ancelotti reiterated: "He won't be involved in the training sessions." However, Emenalo will sit on the bench for matches, starting today at Birmingham City.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/nov/20/ray-wilkins-chelsea-dismissal

[Madmax 9,219]

Don't blame him, he hasn't been treated with respect.

[DYC. 7,542]

Not surprised at all by the news as it was to be expected. Everything was going so well and then the club makes a decision like this in the during the season (!). And than they replace a real Chelsea-man by Emenalo or whatever his name is .

Very disappointed in the club and the drama that will come with this decision is their fault.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I sometimes loathe the way this club is run. Wilkins had done nothing wrong and Ancelotti even testified his importance.

[Madmax 9,219]

To not renew a contract is one thing, to tap someone on the shoulder 10 mins into the second half of a reserves game and tell him to sod off and put up a pathetic 2 line paragraph on the official site is another. Now it's clear it wasn't anything to do with an incident or a bust up or insubordination, otherwise Ray wouldn't be pursuing legal action. He was our captain at 18 ffs. This is a disgrace.

[DYC. 7,542]

To not renew a contract is one thing, to tap someone on the shoulder 10 mins into the second half of a reserves game and tell him to sod off and put up a pathetic 2 line paragraph on the official site is another. Now it's clear it wasn't anything to do with an incident or a bust up or insubordination, otherwise Ray wouldn't be pursuing legal action. He was our captain at 18 ffs. This is a disgrace.

+1

Just heartless.

[chelsea blue 615]

STATEMENT ON WILKINS

Posted on: Sat 20 Nov 2010 In response to media enquiries regarding a League Managers' Association (LMA) statement issued on behalf of Ray Wilkins today (Saturday), the club has issued the following statement.

It reads:

'We are having amicable discussions with Ray's legal advisors. Although the matter is confidential, we can say that we have told Ray and his advisors that we will honour the termination provisions in Ray's contract.'

[zolayes 14,489]

To not renew a contract is one thing, to tap someone on the shoulder 10 mins into the second half of a reserves game and tell him to sod off and put up a pathetic 2 line paragraph on the official site is another. Now it's clear it wasn't anything to do with an incident or a bust up or insubordination, otherwise Ray wouldn't be pursuing legal action. He was our captain at 18 ffs. This is a disgrace.

at first I was baffled by this ,,now like you I am becoming very annoyed with how it seems have to have been dealt with.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

"You have to compare me with (Sir Alex) Ferguson, it's a different position. Because Ferguson has total control of the team. I am just technical direction. Full stop."

- Carlo

[Kostas 1,468]

CHELSEA AND WILKINS AGREEMENT

Chelsea Football Club can confirm we have amicably resolved all outstanding matters regarding Ray Wilkins' departure from the club on November 11th, 2010.

Chelsea FC chief executive Ron Gourlay said: 'I am pleased to announce that we have come to a swift and amicable agreement with Ray Wilkins and all unresolved matters have now been settled.

'I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ray for his service to the club and wish him all the best for the future.'

No more bad blood between the board and Butch then, glad that we got this out of the way. The last thing we needed was bad publicity.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

No more bad blood between the board and Butch then, glad that we got this out of the way. The last thing we needed was bad publicity.

Cover up more like, they must've given him a good compensation fee or something. Good on Ray for not blasting us in public, he may not like the decision, but he's Chelsea through-and-through

[LDN Blue 7,903]

“It has obviously been a big wrench leaving such an illustrious club and one which has played such a huge role in my playing and coaching career.

I have great affection for the club, the staff, the players and its supporters and wish them all the very best for the remainder of the season and the future,

I would also like to thank the club and the LMA for ensuring that matters have been brought to a swift and harmonious conclusion."

[Swoopz 183]

Word on the street is that Ray was axed because he was suspected of getting a little too close to the wife of Ron Gourlay. Come on blues, keep it in your pants.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

No more bad blood between the board and Butch then, glad that we got this out of the way. The last thing we needed was bad publicity.

Too late for that. That comes with the territory when you unceremoniously sack a celebrated former England international and one of the most-liked faces in the game.

[Madmax 9,219]

ON HIS EXIT

"These things happen in football," he says. "Mr [Roman] Abramovich wanted to make a change, so he made a change. And when you've spent as much money as he has, then you're entitled to do so."

"I'm very saddened by it," he says of his own recent exit. "My whole family is. We've been Chelsea-ites for years and years. But I'm realistic enough that football doesn't surprise me any more. So we'll just have to get on, and if the next challenge comes round the corner, we'll just have to see what it is."

ON CHELSEA'S UCL CHANCES

"They've got power, pace and a burning desire to succeed in Europe," he says. "They're geared to go the whole way, specially with the draw they've just had. I feel with Manchester United at the moment they look as though they might concede goals, and I haven't see that for a long time. They seem to be quite open in the way they're playing. They're undefeated in the Premier League, but when I've seen them they've looked as if they could ship a goal, whereas Chelsea are rock-solid, especially when everybody's fit – and Alex will be back at that point. So they'll have [branislav] Ivanovic, Alex, John Terry, Ashley Cole and [Petr] Cech in goal, and if there's a finer back five playing, I haven't seen it.

"It's paramount in Europe, keeping that clean sheet. I love watching Tottenham play this year, and Arsenal, too, but they look as if they can concede a goal. Out of the four, it's only Chelsea I can see keeping a clean sheet if they really have to."

ON THE UNITED GAME TOMORROW

"It's come at a great time," he says. "We'll be in for a feast. It's a good game for Chelsea to have at the moment, coming off their performance at Tottenham last weekend, and they'll be buoyed by the prospect of Frank [Lampard] coming back. When you've got a guy whose scored 20 goals a season from midfield for the past six or seven years, it's a massive loss. Everybody has injury problems, but with Frank out they've lost goals from the middle of the field. When he's back to match tempo, he'll be a real threat again. They've had a lot of players unfit, and there have been some playing with injury. They've had a little bit of a bad period but the signs on Sunday were that they're coming through it.

"The last six or seven years haven't been too successful for Man United at Stamford Bridge, but they always seemed to nullify each other away from home. Chelsea had the ability to take the ball off Man United at Old Trafford, and vice versa. But I've got a little feeling that Chelsea might nick this one on Sunday."

ON HIS FUTURE PLANS

The next challenge, however, is always the important one. "Hopefully it's not too far away. I want to get in there. I'm a football person. When I ended up playing for Orient and Wycombe, I was still waking up every morning so grateful that I was a footballer. I don't think there's a better life. I've been blessed. So you expect to get kicked in the proverbials every now and then."

The Guardian