• Premier League

Chelsea announce shock departure of Wilkins

ESPN staff
November 11, 2010
Ray Wilkins was Carlo Ancelotti's No. 2 © Getty Images
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Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins has left the club after his contract with the Premier League champions was not renewed.

Wilkins' third spell with the Blues began in 2008 when he was appointed as Luiz Felipe Scolari's assistant, and he continued in the role under both Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti.

Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay announced the board's decision not to renew Wilkins' contract and the former England midfielder will leave the club with immediate effect.

"On behalf of everyone at the club I would like to thank Ray for everything he has done for Chelsea Football Club. We all wish him well for the future," Gourlay said.

Following Chelsea's Double success last season, Ancelotti hailed Wilkins in his autobiography, The Beautiful Games of an Ordinary Genius, which was published in September.

"Ray is one of those select few, always present, noble in spirit, a real blue-blood, Chelsea flows in his veins... without him we wouldn't have won a thing," he wrote.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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