SOCCER:Jose Mourinho will not be sacked this summer even if Chelsea fail to win a trophy, the club's chief executive, Peter Kenyon, insisted yesterday as he rubbished suggestions the manager was in his final season at Stamford Bridge

Mourinho's reign is widely expected to end at the conclusion of this campaign, with him walking away if he lifts the European Cup or being fired if he does not. But Kenyon described a sacking as out of the question and believes the former Porto coach has no intention of quitting.

Kenyon said he and Chelsea's owner, Roman Abramovich, regard continuity as key to success, citing the careers of Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. He also feels Mourinho's attachment to Chelsea is as strong as the club's bond to their manager.

"It is reciprocal - we are both important to each other," Kenyon said. "He is a critical part of Chelsea and I think Chelsea gives him what he is looking for in terms of fulfilling his football ambitions, which are enormous.

"From my early conversations with the owner about developing where we wanted to be, one of the key components is putting the staff in place that gives us continuity. If you look at the history of the Premier League, the two most successful clubs - and hopefully the third - have got continuity of managers."

Despite successive titles and a League Cup triumph, Mourinho is perceived to be under pressure to deliver Chelsea's first European Cup after making signings worth tens of millions of pounds. Kenyon, though, was unequivocal when asked whether Mourinho would avoid dismissal even if he wins nothing this season. "Correct," he said.

Mourinho, who has a contract to 2010, has played down rumours this will be his last campaign at Chelsea. He has privately threatened to quit in the past but Kenyon dismissed that. "I don't want to get into discussing those issues which are very personal but I am happy and convinced Jose Mourinho is the best guy to do the job for us at Chelsea and Jose thinks we are the best club to gain the success he wants," he said. ... Guardian Service