• Premier League

Terry would welcome Hiddink or Hughes at Chelsea

ESPNsoccernet staff
June 3, 2011
John Terry believes the club will take time to appoint the right man © PA Photos
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John Terry believes the Chelsea players would welcome Guus Hiddink or Mark Hughes as the club's new manager.

Carlo Ancelotti was dismissed at the end of the campaign after Chelsea ended the season empty-handed, and there have been a number of names linked to the post including Andre Villas-Boas, Marco van Basten and Harry Redknapp.

However, Hiddink - who impressed when taking over from Luiz Felipe Scolari at the end of the 2008-09 campaign - is thought to be the leading candidate, having suggested he is ready to walk away from Turkey.

Blues captain Terry has now said that, while the players will have no swap over the decision, they would be happy to see Hiddink take charge.

"There's a lot of speculation out there at the moment,'' Terry told an England press conference ahead of the team's Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland on Saturday. "I was very sad to see Carlo go, and as a group of players we will wait for the club to make a decision. There's a lot of managers been linked at the moment.

"We had a great time under Guus. He would be welcomed back. Whether we are going to get someone who knows the club or someone different, that's out of the players' hands."

While Hiddink remains the favourite, there has been speculation that Hughes could be in contention. The Welshman, who spent three years at Stamford Bridge as a player in the 1990s, is a free agent after he decided against renewing his contract at Fulham.

It was thought he would replace Gerard Houllier at Aston Villa, but there are now indications that owner Randy Lerner is looking elsewhere and could make an ambitious bid to tempt Ancelotti to Villa Park.

Terry feels that Hughes, who was linked with Chelsea before taking the Manchester City job in 2008, would also have the support of the squad.

"He's someone that hopefully the club will be talking to," he said. "If it's him he will be welcomed by the players."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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