Roman Abramovich has told Chelsea’s board to find a managerial hard man to replace the sacked Avram Grant. The club have yet to identify who will become their third manager in nine months, but they have put together a shortlist focusing on renowned disciplinarians, believed to include Guus Hiddink, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Marcello Lippi, with Mark Hughes the home-grown candidate.

Pini Zahavi, who for several years has acted as a buying agent for Chelsea, is pushing the credentials of his friend Sven-Göran Eriksson, whom Abramovich has attempted to hire on two previous occasions, but the former England manager’s reputation for indulging his players would appear to rule him out this time. Frank Rijkaard and Roberto Mancini, who have won domestic titles with Barcelona and Inter Milan respectively, also fall into this category.

Hiddink became the first man to rule himself out last night, with Cees van Nieuwenhuizen, his agent, telling The Times that his client would remain as coach of Russia until the 2010 World Cup. However, the intervention of Abramovich could change that. Hiddink has not signed a two-year contract extension that was agreed with the Russian FA in March and, as a guest at the Champions League final last week, told a packed Luzhniki Stadium in English that he still hoped to work in the Barclays Premier League.

Hiddink is perhaps the only candidate to fulfil all of the criteria that the Chelsea board have been given in their search for a manager. His track record, coaching skills and tactical acumen are impeccable – he has taken four countries to leading finals and won the Champions League with PSV Eindhoven – as is his English. The 61-year-old is known for his disciplinarian approach – he sent Edgar Davids home from Euro 96 – and he gets on with Abramovich, who helped to recruit him for the Russia job and funds his salary.

Hiddink’s only problem is his availability, with Van Nieuwenhuizen emphasising his commitment to Russia. “There’s no way Guus will go to Chelsea,” he said. “It’s not an option and has never been. Guus is the coach of Russia and will stay until the World Cup of 2010.” The other leading contenders have no such issues. Scolari’s deal with Portugal ends after the European Championship and Lippi has been out of work since winning the World Cup with Italy two years ago.

Having priced himself out of a move to Manchester City, Scolari is keen on the Chelsea post and has told friends that he would relish working with Abramovich. Sources at Blackburn Rovers have said that they want to keep Hughes, but could not stand in his way if Chelsea approached him.

Whoever succeeds Grant should be given the time to succeed, says Richard Bevan, the League Managers’ Association chief executive. Bevan insisted yesterday that clubs must learn from Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton in keeping faith with their managers. “I was told that Roman Abramovich said he had contributed 30 per cent towards the club regarding on-the-pitch activity,” he said. “Not so much interfering, but having communication. If you’re one of the richest men in the world, then you want to speak to the manager on a regular basis and I’m sure that’s what he did with Avram.”

Grant, who returned to Israel last night to obtain his Uefa Pro Licence, hopes to return to England and has instructed Zahavi to find him a manager’s job at a Premier League club. He is one of many considered by Manchester City, though a decision on who replaces Eriksson is not expected imminently.

Chelsea’s clear-out of their coaching staff is set to continue on Wednesday, when Henk Ten Cate and Steve Clarke are due to meet Peter Kenyon, the chief executive.