June 9, 2005

Chelsea Move from One Controversy to Another

Chelsea have become that friend that panics whenever he or she is not the center of attention and does something outrageous to bring the spotlight back on them. Barely had the ink dried on the FA’s report on the whole Ashley Cole tapping-up affair, when they made another splash when they illegally approached Tottenham’s sporting director Frank Arnesen to join them. Chelsea wrote to Tottenham for permission but coyly included Arnesen in the email so that he knew he was a wanted man. Tottenham offered to double Arnesen’s salary but Chelsea said simply offered to double Tottenham’s double. That, and coupled with Chelsea’s limitless budget, has lured away the Dane. Frank Arnesen had been the cornerstone of Tottenham’s new continental style of doing business; he supplied the squad, Martin Jol supplied the on-pitch results. Now Tottenham’s revolving door in the front office will keep on spinning, with Jol likely to move into sole control, like a proper English manager. Tottenham have shrewdly decided to play up the illegal procedure angle, hoping to squeeze at least Scott Parker and possibly Mikael Forssell, Mateja Kezman and/or some of Roman Abramovich’s cash out of Chelsea for their trouble. Chelsea’s bullheaded, Oakland Raiders-style tactics of doing business, continue to ruffle feathers wherever they go.

Edward Knowles, International Editor, 90:00™