Source: Telegraph
Chelsea close to appointing Guus Hiddink for rest of season
Abramovich spent Tuesday at Stamford Bridge and has secured permission to speak with Hiddink about taking charge until the end of the season, following Luiz Felipe Scolari's dismissal on Monday.[LNB]After that, all parties will reassess their options, with Chelsea potentially then turning to Carlo Ancelotti, the AC Milan coach, or Frank Rijkaard, the former Barcelona manager.[LNB]Milan director Umberto Gandini said that he thought Ancelotti "might consider" the Chelsea job at the end of the season.[LNB]The intention is for Hiddink to combine his work as Russia coach with Chelsea and, although Ray Wilkins is likely to take charge for the FA Cup match against Watford on Saturday, the Dutchman is expected to lead Chelsea against Aston Villa in 10 days time.[LNB]Hiddink has been on a training camp with Russia in Turkey this week, but is due to return to Moscow on Wednesday, when formal talks are expected to commence with Abramovich.[LNB]Having decided to target Hiddink, Abramovich was perfectly placed to secure a deal after having paid a significant proportion of the 62-year-old's wages as Russia coach.[LNB]Hiddink said that he would consider combining his work in Russia only with Chelsea. "If it was any other club my answer would be a straight 'no'," he said. "But Chelsea is different because I have good relations with the owner. I would like to help them if I could."[LNB]Hiddink also insisted he would not be relinquishing his duties with Russia and is fully committed to helping them qualify for the 2010 World Cup. "This would only be for the next two or three months until the end of the season," he said. "I will not leave my job with the Russian national team. When I took the Russia job it was a long-term project and I don't like to leave it unfinished."[LNB]Hiddink previously combined coaching roles with Australia and PSV Eindhoven and is expected to base himself in London. Russia have two World Cup qualifiers before the end of the season, at home to Azerbaijan on March 28 and away to Liechtenstein four days' later.[LNB]Chelsea captain John Terry has said the players should take some blame for Scolari's demise and declared that he was fully supportive of the Brazilian. Amid reports that Abramovich had taken soundings from players, Terry somewhat cryptically said that "two or three other players will say the same thing".[LNB]
