Roman Abramovich was today searching for his eighth Chelsea manager in eight years after after giving Andre Villas-Boas just eight months in charge.
Villas-Boas became the latest Blues boss to be sacked by the ruthless Russian after spectacularly failing to live up to his billing as the brightest young coach in the game.
The 34-year-old lost his job less than 24 hours after yesterday's Barclays Premier League defeat at West Brom, which left the Blues fifth in the table.
Press Association Sport understands Abramovich delivered the news personally, the billionaire owner, chief executive Ron Gourlay and director Eugene Tenenbaum taking Villas-Boas aside after training today to inform him of his fate.
The trio then told assistant manager Roberto Di Matteo that he would be in charge until the end of the season before informing the players who were seemingly so instrumental in Villas-Boas' downfall.
Di Matteo's appointment ended speculation Rafael Benitez would be parachuted in until the summer but the former Liverpool boss remains the bookmakers' favourite to succeed Villas-Boas.
Chelsea said in a statement on their official...
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