‘Top manager’ – Paul Merson urges Chelsea to hire Premier League boss | Football

Paul Merson believes Chelsea should consider poaching a ‘top manager’ from a Premier League rival after sacking Liam Rosenior.

Rosenior signed a five-and-a-half year deal at Stamford Bridge in January after arriving from French club Strasbourg.

But the former Premier League player spent just 106 days in charge before being sacked after a miserable run for the Blues.

Rosenior oversaw just 11 wins in his 23 matches at the helm and last week’s defeat at Brighton was Chelsea’s fifth successive league loss without scoring, the club’s worst run since 1912.

‘Liam has always conducted himself with the highest integrity and professionalism following his appointment midway through the season,’ a statement from Chelsea said.

‘This has not been a decision the club has taken lightly, however recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season.’

Chelsea also confirmed academy coach Calum McFarlane would take over as interim manager until the end of the season, when Rosenior’s permanent replacement will be appointed.

Premier League bosses Andoni Iraola, set to leave Bournemouth at the end of the season, and Marco Silva, currently at Fulham, are believed to be under consideration for the Chelsea job.

But Merson has suggested Chelsea should be keeping tabs on ‘top manager’ Eddie Howe as he continues to be linked with a departure from Newcastle United.

Howe led Newcastle to a fifth-place finish and to the Carabao Cup trophy last season but it has been a different story this term.

Newcastle have lost almost half of their league games and Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal leaves them 14th in the table, just eight points above the relegation zone.

Merson has warned Newcastle to ‘be careful’ as they consider replacing Howe, however, and says clubs like Chelsea will be ‘queueing up around the corner’ if he becomes available.

‘I’m a big fan of Eddie Howe,’ Merson told Sky Sports. ‘If Eddie Howe leaves Newcastle, they’ll be queueing up around the corner for him.

‘So that tells you everything. Be careful Newcastle. Chelsea would take him tomorrow morning, you’d like to think so wouldn’t you?

‘In my opinion, they’d take him all day long. We’re talking about a next England manager, 100 per cent.

‘As I say, everybody would be queueing up to take Eddie Howe, he’s a top manager.

‘He’s just had injuries and with the [Alexander] Isak thing at the end of the season. I think Eddie has done enough to decide whatever he wants at the club. I think there’s a genuine love for him up there.’

Discussing Howe’s future at St James’ Park, Jamie Redknapp added: ‘I think Eddie has done enough to decide whatever he wants at the club.

‘I think there’s a genuine love for him up there. I think the fans will be disappointed with the season, understandably.

‘I think they’re 14th in the league. They’ll have expected a lot more when you look at what they’ve done previously. He deserves the opportunity and the luxury of deciding what happens.

‘There might come to a point at the end of the season Eddie thinks, “I’ve maybe taken this group as far as I can.” There’s obviously something not right there and the performances haven’t been acceptable.’

Meanwhile, Howe admitted talks with the Newcastle hierarchy at the end of the season could be ‘slightly harder’ than in previous years after the team’s poor form continued against title-chasing Arsenal.

‘These are things that we always have every year,’ Howe said. ‘Obviously this one will be slightly harder for me I’m sure, but it will be good to meet with the owners and discuss the future.’

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