Antonio Conte wants to appoint his own backroom staff when he takes over at Chelsea, raising doubts over the future of Steve Holland and Eddie Newton.
Conte looks certain to become the club’s next permanent manager after agreeing terms on a three-year contract worth £4.75million a year after tax, plus bonuses.
The Italy coach is determined to bring trusted coaches Angelo Alessio, Massimo Carrera and Paolo Bertelli with him, as well as scout Mauro Sandreani.
The quartet worked with Conte at Juventus, where he won three titles between 2012-14 and moved with him when he was appointed by the Italian football federation two years ago.
Conte has been assured during talks with Chelsea that he can bring whoever he wishes to west London.
That will cause some concern to Blues assistant manager Holland, who has been at the club since 2009, when he initially took charge of the reserves.
The 45-year-old was promoted to work with the senior side when Andre Villas- Boas arrived in 2011 and his role has grown in importance under Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink.
After Mourinho was sacked in December, Holland was in charge for the 3-1 win over Sunderland with Hiddink sitting in the stands ahead of his appointment as interim manager.
Holland’s abilities also came to the attention of the FA and he was named as Gareth Southgate’s assistant with the England Under-21s in 2013.
Conte has not worked in the Premier League so is likely to consider keeping Holland to help provide an insight.
But Holland, who has been linked with a number of managerial jobs, may not want to return to a minor position.
Hiddink’s arrival gave Newton his second spell as an assistant coach having also worked alongside Roberto Di Matteo in 2012, when they won the Champions League and FA Cup. After Di Matteo was sacked four years ago, the 44-year-old was given a new post to liaise with the loan players Chelsea have across the world.
Given how the club continue to send players to other teams on temporary deals, the former midfielder could revert to that role.
However, Hiddink praised both Holland and Newton when he took over and said they were examples of why teams should look to appoint English coaches as managers rather than their foreign counterparts.
Speaking after Holland and Newton oversaw the victory over Sunderland, Hiddink said: “I think Steve Holland has done a terrific job. I followed him at Saturday’s game and he did a good job. When I see that, I give them [Holland and Newton] full exposure and let them do it.
“They are young managers. I’m not the kind to say the light is fully on me now. I want these guys to develop.”
Conte will be the third Italian to be in charge at Stamford Bridge in the past seven years with Chelsea having also appointed Carlo Ancelotti as well as Di Matteo.
Former England coach Fabio Capello has greeted the news saying: “Antonio at Chelsea would be yet another success for our school of coaches.”
Chelsea are prepared to spend big in the summer to make sure they are challenging at the top of the table again next term and will give Conte significant funds in the transfer market.
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