Sorry Phil. Hate to point this out - but it's Man Utd who won 2 of the last 3 championships.

Simon Keys, Cambridge, England

Marcello Lippi and Zola would be the perfect mix. Lippi is a great leader and a winner ,Zola is a chelsea legend would be a great link between technical team and the management.
If the overrated and press manipulator Mourinho calls himself the special one what should a coach like Lippi call himself

corrado grassini, london,

I would suggest that Chelsea have as much "class" as their captain who parks in handicapped parking spots , I cannot believe they fired Grant , what is all this" second is'nt good enough at Chelsea " malarkey - tell me their total accomplishments over the last 50 years , who would want to work there

Ed Allen, Whitby , Canada

Money can't buy championships? Chelsea won 2 of the last 3, and were only 2 points short this time. Not to mention the width of the post (twice) and bar (once) from the European Champions League.

I'd go for Hiddink. Rijkaard failed at Barcelopna and Scolari has no relevant ecxperience.

Phil Hexter, Cardiff,

Abramovich may not want to upset the powers that be in Russia by nicking their national coach.

James, Jakarta, Indonesia

Hope they get someone who isn't as miserable as Grant,I bet he was really inspiring in his team talks.Apparently he bottled the team talk before the Champions League final.

john , shrewsbury, uk

Grant earned more points than any other manager since he was appointed at Chelsea 8 months ago. He even took them to the European Championship final which is more than Murinhio and Ranieri managed. They deserve what they will get and don't expect any trophies next year

Chris, aberdeen, uk

It is a Russian housekeeping matter whether Hiddink will stay with the Russian national team or Chelsea. Of sports, capitalism and global power. Who needs Le Carre !!!

Hafiz Sayuti , Serangoon , Singapore

Its got to be Scolari trust. thin about it

Brasil Manager + Portugal Manager + Disciplinarian = What we (including Roman Abramovich) seek and what will enjoy.

Opeyemi Fagbohungbe, Keele/Staffordshire, England/United Kingdom

Every manager in the world wants this job. People cannot comprehend the number "one billion." Anyone associated with this club has a guaranteed retirement. Kenyon must be fired soon, by the way, if for no better reason than he has failed to do what he said he would do - for over three years now.

Andrew Fox, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Mourinho was one. Given Mourinho won;t retunr to Chelseas, Hiddink is the only candidate who can take on Fergie.

Dave, Sydney,

By the way, while I don't think he would be a better choice than, say, Hiddink, for the Chelsea job, Jürgen Klinsman is actually no longer bent on living in the U.S., as Atle said in one of the early comments. He is actually making the move back to Germany to take over Bayern München this summer.

Holger, Berlin, Germany

Klinsman is in Bayern. Maybe Rijkaard? Chelsea has to sign really professional coach.

Miroslav, Kyiv, Ukraine

I say Luiz Felipe Scolari. He's got it all. I hope he'll be the one approached to fill in the job and i'm sure he'll do the job right. My only fear is how comfortable or uncomfortable the English press will make him feel. The board should take their time though. A week or two won't hurt

Joshua, Mombasa, KENYA

Michael Laudrup`s the right man for Chelsea. - His style of football, is what spectators at the Bridge have been longing for, for ages...!

Stuart Gallagher, London,

Give David Moyles a chance; he has gone as far as he can with Everton. Don't let the Premier leaguer have yet another foreigner.

Julian Moss, Northampton, UK

I think Jürgen Klinsman would be the perfect man for the job. His work with the German national team prodused some fantastic football.

Just a pity he's made up his mind on living in the U.S.

Atle Storaker, Trondheim, Norway

Why not Harry Redknapp?
He has a great record of salvaging flagging careers and knows the transfer market as good as anyone mentioned. His teams play good football which is want Abramovich wants, plus he has a knack of beating Man Utd. But he is English so that probably counts him out...

Paul, West Midlands,

mr.abramovich must leave the blues and goes fast to russia and buy a team in motherland, he guy don´t made nothing for the chelsea,and yours investement not is safe.

Hilson M.Breckenfeld Filho, recife, brasil/pernambuco

Mourinho is the most successful manager in Chelsea's history. His tally of six trophies in three years, I very much doubt, could be bettered by any one of the candidates mentioned. I can't see the proud Mourinho coming back to Chelsea in a million years - unless Abramovich packs his bags.

Roy David, Deal, Kent, UK

The man for the job is Hiddink, I'm Dutch and I can tell for sure that he has the experience and the knowledge to bring Chelsea on top.

Jeroen, Panningen, Holland

Bring back Jose Mourinho, all the ladies are screaming out for him!

Short & Sweet, London,

Martin O'Neil would be a great manager of Chelsea. He understands the game, and knows the Premiership. Might not tolerate interference from above though.
I am hoping Abramovich will have learned that whoever he appoints needs to be allowed to manage without interference after this season.

Lyall, Cambridge,

Chelski will be looking for another manager this time next year. Money can't buy championships

Andy, london, uk

The best man for the job is SAF, but he is not coming to Chelsea no matter what.

bob, machester, uk

To Dan V : heard of a game Russia - England 2 -1 ?

El Buitre, Baar,

Please hire Lippi, what a great manager and it would bring the old Forza Italia back to Chelsea, and a possible return for Franco Zola as his assistant!!!! Besides that, Chelsea are in need of a manger to take charge in every aspect similar to Mourinho, but not hold out for 1-0 wins every week.

Anthony Farren, Tonbridge, Kent

Hidink who has never won a match against an English team (?) -sorry he hasn't got he impecable credentials everyone seems to think he has.
1st choice: Mourinho, 2nd, Scolari or Hughes - shaded very marginally to the ex-Chelsea player.
Also bring in GianFranco Zola in any capacity he wants.

Dan V, london, UK

Had to laugh out loud at the "take no crap from Roman" comment. Chelski are trying desperately to be a big club, but it costs to the tune of c £80m losses per year to buy success for them, Without Roman they'd be bust. They are now a plaything and what he says goes. Get over it.

Andy, Aylesbury,

Mark Hughes is far and away the best possible candidate from the Premier League. Hughsie has consistently performed at Blackburn - albeit on a smaller transfer budget than most . He would not tolerate with the poor discipline shown by some of Chelseas players.

chris dixon, Hampshire, uk

I am sick and tired of people saying that Chelsea had a successful season under Grant. Would Man. Utd called their season a success if they had won NOTHING?
Restore Jose and we shall be on our way to glory.

KYPROS SHACOLAS, Nicosia, Cyprus

Discipline is second-best to leadership.

Rui, Lisbon, Benfica

What about Graeme Souness - it would be amusing to see him do at Chelsea what he did at Liverpool!

Chris Jackson, London,

Sorry David but as Man U will find out when SAF retires there are very few managers that can deliver that level of success.

As for the Chelsea job, it seems almost contrived that Grant is sacked when Rijkaard is availible.

Will, Huntingdon,

The only man in the world who could do the job is Sir Alex.
And he aint moving!! no matter how much money you got.

David Jones, Tirane, Albania

Add Jose Mourinho to the list, and at the top of it. A gigantic mistake to part company with him. If the rumours are true that he and Roman have a better relationship these days, maybe, just maybe, BOTH men could be big enough to bury their differences.

David, San Diego, CA, USA

As a Chelsea fan i main choices are Guus hidink or Mark Hughes... i am leaning toward Hughes because hes a manager who will a talented squad will motivate them and get them playing his football.....and will not take crap from Roman

Kitson, London,

Guus Hiddink is the one, without a doubt. Then I won't miss a single Chelsea match. But unless Abramovich makes 'the move', Hiddink will probably stay in Russia. A loyal man he is...

nihs irey , London, UK

In my view the only candidates for Chelsea manager post are Guus Hidink and Frank Rijkard, no more.

thanks - joseph

joseph masai, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania