Chelsea face Turkey shoot to land guus

Posted Friday, April 15, 2011 by Express.co.uk

Chelsea face Turkey shoot to land guus
Roman Abramovich will face a fight if he decides to make another move for Guus Hiddink

CHELSEA owner Roman Abramovich will face a fight with the Turkish Football Federation if he decides to make another move for Guus Hiddink.

Abramovich turned to Hiddink, 64, two years ago after sacking Luiz Felipe Scolari, persuading him to accept a caretaker role in tandem with his job with the Russian national team.

Hiddink is now in charge of Turkey, but their federation president Mahmut Ozgener has made it clear he is in no mood to do Abramovich or Chelsea any favours if they get rid of manager Carlo Ancelotti.

With Frank Arnesen on the way out, Hiddink could be considered for a sporting director role or the manager’s job at Stamford Bridge, but Ozgener has told colleagues he is prepared to dig in his heels.

A Turkish federation spokesman said: “The president is very clear. Any approach for Mr Hiddink would be received very coldly.

“He does not think a dual role is possible and he expects full focus and concentration on the national team.

Mr Hiddink has always told us he is focused on the Turkish national team and that he hopes to qualify for Euro 2012 and then take the team to the 2014 World Cup.”

Turkey’s tough stance would leave Abramovich having to offer a mega-money compensation package for Hiddink or trying to persuade him to act against his nature and quit his post.

A representative of Hiddink’s has already stressed he has no plans to walk out of his Turkey contract and claimed his availability would rest on him being sacked.

Roma, meanwhile, are planning to spare the blushes of Ancelotti by offering him an escape route out of Chelsea.

The Italians could rescue former player Ancelotti from the embarrassment of the sack and Abramovich a hefty compensation package by giving him the chance to succeed caretaker boss Vincenzo Montella.

Ancelotti has one season left of his £6million-a-year Chelsea contract, which would need to be paid off if he is fired.

In normal circumstances Chelsea would be due compensation if he left for another job without being sacked, but Roma are hoping to strike a compromise deal that will satisfy all parties.

Meanwhile former Chelsea boss Glenn Hoddle has thrown his support behind Ancelotti, insisting the club’s future is bright under his stewardship.

“Carlo won the double last year and he hasn’t done as well this year, it is pretty simple,” said Hoddle at the launch of Football 40 and The London Legends Cup at Planet Hollywood, London.

“He has had a really fantastic season, but obviously Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich wants to win the Champions League and it has not happened.

“But they still have a very good squad, the ability to entice very good players to them and with a manager of his pedigree, why would you want to start afresh again?”

While Ancelotti is set to pay for Chelsea’s failures, the club’s fans will be hit with a ticket price hike for next season.

The biggest rise will see Champions League Group games increase by 33 per cent from £30 to £40, while some West Stand season ticket prices have gone up from £830 to £900.

Michelle Shaw, co-vice-chair of the Chelsea Supporters Group, said: “Chelsea seem to think that their supporters are recession-proof, but we’re not.”

Chelsea insist the changes offer “value for money” and had been made after consulting the club’s Fans’ Forum. The majority of ticket prices have been frozen, while the most expensive matchday seat was still cheaper than at Arsenal.