London - John Terry jumped the gun by announcing that he is leaving Chelsea, as it emerged that the club have yet to decide on his future.
Terry had hoped to be offered a new deal, plus the option of a coaching role at the club, at the end of his existing £150,000-a-week contract. The central defender has been making steady progress with his coaching badges over the past decade and had designs on managing Chelsea.
It now appears Terry’s reaction could jeopardise his chances of seeing out his career at Stamford Bridge following talks with Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia.
Although Chelsea have confirmed that Terry, 35, approached them about a new deal last month, the champions asked the captain to wait until a new manager was in place before they made a decision. Just minutes after Sunday’s 5-1 victory over MK Dons in the FA Cup, Terry announced that he is leaving Chelsea when his contract runs out at the end of the season.
He had to be talked out of releasing a statement announcing his departure before the club’s victory over Arsenal in the Barclays Premier League on January 24. Terry’s statement appears to be a tactic designed to put him in the shop window for a move to a new club, but it is understood that his decision to speak after the victory over MK Dons was made without the knowledge of, or an agreement with, his agent.
Chelsea maintain that they will continue to have dialogue with their captain over the next few months and have asked Terry to be patient during the ongoing process into appointing a new manager. The club’s interim coach Guus Hiddink is expected to act as a mediator during the impasse, following his recommendation that the captain has done enough to remain at Chelsea.
Terry was initially told that his form had not been good enough for his contract to be automatically renewed, but he has been one of the club’s most consistent players since Jose Mourinho was sacked. Hiddink has already confirmed that he believes Terry, who signed his first professional contract with Chelsea 18 years ago, has earned another year through performance.
The Dutch coach will be grilled about it again ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Vicarage Road tomorrow night to play Watford in the Premier League and his stance is unlikely to have altered.Although the captain has had a chequered career at Chelsea, there is no question about his ability on the pitch and his position as one of the dressing-room leaders over more than a decade.
Chelsea’s reaction to Terry’s surprise announcement at Stadium mk was to release a statement of their own, insisting that there is still room for manoeuvre with the player.
Daily Mail