Chelsea chairman Buck rules out move for Mourinho

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck has dismissed suggestions that the Premier League club might make a move for former manager Jose Mourinho in the close-season.

Interim Blues boss Guus Hiddink will end his temporary spell with the west London outfit and return to the Russian national team full-time in May.

AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti is the favourite to replace Hiddink but Mourinho, who left Chelsea by mutual consent in September 2007 after winning two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and League Cup during his explosive reign, had also been linked with a switch from Inter Milan.

But Buck is adamant the Portuguese coach, who fell out with Blues owner Roman Abramovich, will not make a dramatic return to Stamford Bridge.

“Jose was a great coach, he is a great guy but I think his time at Chelsea Football Club has passed,” Buck told a fans’ forum.

“We didn’t fire him; it was mutual that he left the club. The board and Jose were not seeing eye-to-eye on a number of things and it was time we parted company.

“We have great respect, obviously, for what he did for Chelsea, we are on great terms with him. I saw him at the Manchester United match, he is a great guy and he did great things for the club.

“But in September 2007 Jose and the board and Roman decided it was time for Jose to leave.”

Buck confirmed that there is no chance of Hiddink staying, even though Chelsea captain John Terry this week pleaded with the club to keep the coach who has inspired a run of eight wins in 10 matches.

“Guus came here on a temporary basis two months ago and it is thanks to the Russian FA that he was able to come here; it is purely a temporary role,” Buck said.

“There has been a lot of speculation about him staying, particularly as he has been doing a great job. That will not be the case.

“It is now up to the board to find a new manager for the long term and that is a process that we have started and is ongoing. Anything you might read is just speculation at this stage. When we have an agreement for our new manager we will announce it.”

Buck also expects some of the current squad will be sold to fund new signings but did not rule out Abramovich spending his own cash to get the right player.

The futures of Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Salomon Kalou and Deco have already come under scrutiny this season and Chelsea may be ready to cash in on some of their stars to fund a rebuilding programme under their new manager.

“I think I could maybe discuss transfers generally,” Buck said. “We are expecting some players to leave this summer, I don’t know whether it is three, four or five, and several players to come in.

“In the large part we would like to fund acquisitions with sales, that just makes good business, but I think that if the player came along at the right price, and it was a hefty price, and it worked for Chelsea, then Mr Abramovich would be willing to invest more money in the club for that transfer.”