SOCCER:Peter Kenyon has promised that Chelsea will not sack Jose Mourinho at the end of the season. It had been widely assumed that the strained relationship between Mourinho and Roman Abramovich would end with the Portuguese leaving Stamford Bridge but Chelsea's chief executive pledged that there were no plans to remove the club's charismatic manager.

"Jose has a contract until 2010 and he wants to stay," said Kenyon. "We are not going to sack him. He has the club's support. That's the situation and we are agreed on it. We support Jose as manager and, given the level of speculation, where we are now is an even bigger achievement."

Chelsea have been linked with more than a dozen potential replacements for Mourinho but Kenyon denied that the board had discussed any possible succession. "Whatever you have read or heard, no list of candidates has been drawn up, no one has been offered the job. So let's put that to bed straight away," he said.

Mourinho has enjoyed a good relationship with Kenyon and, although he will surely welcome the chief executive's comments, he is unlikely to feel 100 per cent certain about his future unless he receives reassurances direct from Abramovich.

It is believed that the club's owner is planning to appoint the Portsmouth technical director Avram Grant as director of football, while Mourinho's assistant Steve Clarke has yet to receive a new contract.

Mourinho has already accepted the appointment of Frank Arnesen as chief scout and director of youth development and is likely to resist further changes in the club's structure which might undermine his position. Kenyon, though, hopes that his comments will end speculation surrounding Mourinho's future.

Kenyon's interview has appeared across the club's media and seems certain to have been sanctioned by Abramovich. His guarantee that Mourinho will not be forced from Stamford Bridge also improves the chances of John Terry and Frank Lampard agreeing extensions to their contracts which expire in 2009. Kenyon yesterday said that negotiations were still ongoing.

"Every contract is unique, no two contracts are the same," he said. "Michael Essien, Wayne Bridge, Didier Drogba have all signed new contracts. John Terry and Frank Lampard are not yet completed. That's football.

"Again, I don't want anything to deflect us from our main goal, winning matches and trophies. And I think the players we have been talking to agree, both John and Frank have said similar."

Mourinho's rival Alex Ferguson would be satisfied if his treble-chasing Manchester United outfit only enjoyed success on the Premiership front this season. Chelsea remain on their coat-tails though, emphasising the rising standards required to finish top.

"The simple fact is that Chelsea set the benchmark quite clearly for us," said Ferguson. "They have won the last two titles with over 90 points, which is a terrific total.

"That is the marking card now. That is the total you have to reach in order to realistically feel you can win the league."

Guardian Service