Roberto Di Matteo could be made to sweat over his Chelsea future until his contract expires, chief executive Ron Gourlay has admitted.
Blues owner Roman Abramovich is refusing to be rushed into making a decision about the club's next permanent manager, despite the clamour for caretaker boss Di Matteo to be rewarded for masterminding the greatest climax to a season in their history.
Reports suggest Abramovich would only be prepared to offer the Champions League-winning Di Matteo a one-year trial, something that would allow him to approach Pep Guardiola once the Barcelona boss completes his one-year sabbatical.
Gourlay told Chelsea TV: "We now need to sit down over the next week or two, or however long it takes, because we have to do what's right for the club.
"I know the fans will be pushing for Robbie.
"We're going to look at the season, look at what worked for us, look at the mistakes we made and put them right and take it forward."
Di Matteo's contract expires at the end of June and he is already being heavily
linked with several other vacancies after ending Chelsea's agonising wait for
Champions League glory - on top of their FA Cup triumph.
The likes of Aston Villa - his family home is in the midlands - as well as
former club Lazio, and even Liverpool, have been mentioned as possible suitors.
The Italian had been scheduled to play in the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am golf tournament at Wentworth on Wednesday before flying to Barbados at the end of the week for the British Airways Football Legends Invitational on Saturday and Sunday.
He was then expected to take the family holiday he has craved ever since being handed the reins at Chelsea three months ago.
Di Matteo may want to know his fate before then, while the Blues are looking to have their next manager in place before they fly to the United States for a
pre-season tour on July 15.
Whether Di Matteo would accept a one-year deal - or even a longer one with the spectre of Guardiola looming over him were he to be offered a longer contract - remains to be seen.
Update:
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what do you think?
Phil Tanner
Chelsea act like idiots over every appointment of their managers ! Laughing stock !
John Hudson
I'm sure Roman will manage to mess this up somehow...
Dorrien Phillips
If Chelsea lose RDM for any reason, then I'm afraid they deserve everthing they may get, This man has done wonders for Chelsea, and because he isnt a big name (yet), Abramovich wont give him a decent deal, If I was RDM (I wish lol) if the offer is one year only, id tell them to spin.
Andrew Milligan
Football management is a pure results industry and since he has come in the results do all the talking. If it aint bust don't fix it. Keep the present incumbent.Don't pay big for another man when the chap in place is doing just fine. Show him a bit of respect for what he has achieved since coming in. Stop mucking him about.
Andrew Field
we all know they wont give it him . not high profile enough but what did the so called high profile managers do ? nothing. feel sorry for a really nice guy who is obviously passionate about that club. robbie you can come liverpool anytime
Olando Joe
I think drogba should stay.
Iain Kemble
7:22am on 22/5/2012
just get on with it and appoint the man. He has got to bring men in and things like that. Get a move on, please!!