Source: PA
Wilkins dismisses talk of Roman row
Ray Wilkins has denied that a falling-out with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was behind his shock departure from Stamford Bridge last month.
Wilkins abruptly left his role as assistant manager on November 11 after being told his contract, which was due to expire at the end of the season, would not be renewed.
The 54-year-old former club captain called in the lawyers and a settlement was reached with the Barclays Premier League champions at the start of this month.
But speaking for the first time about his departure, which has coincided with a downturn in form for Chelsea, Wilkins admitted a heated discussion with Abramovich following the club's Champions League exit to Inter Milan last season was not behind his removal.
"I don't think I fell out with him at all," Wilkins told Sky Sports. "I think if that was the case, then I would have been removed from my position immediately. There wasn't so much a row, there was a discussion.
"I think we're big enough to come away from that situation but we've moved on from there and we've won the double but obviously the owner felt that there was need of a change, and he made that change."
