Emalano to be sporting director

Last updated : 06 July 2011 By Paul Lagan

Michael Emenalo is to become Chelsea's new sporting director.

The former girls' U-14 coach in America who became one of the most powerful men in the Chelsea dressing room when he was given assistant coach status under Carlo Ancelotti - despite not holding the required coaching qualifications is promoted to director level at SW6.

Always percieved as a Roman Abramovich's mole in the role of coach, he has survived the coaching cull ordered by new manager Andre Villas-Boas, whereas qualified first team coach Paul Clement was axed from his post.

Villas-Boas has already gone on record claiming that any sporting director would not interfere in his role as manager.

It was a role which Avram Grant had which led him to take over as manager when Jose Mourinho and his coaching staff - including Villas-Boas was sacked.