The news came at 7pm from a statement from Stamford Bridge.
It read: "Chelsea Football Club can confirm that Avram Grant has had his contract as manager terminated today (Saturday, May 24). This follows meetings over the last two days.
Grant sacked at 7pm tonight
The news came at 7pm from a statement from Stamford Bridge.
It read: "Chelsea Football Club can confirm that Avram Grant has had his contract as manager terminated today (Saturday, May 24). This follows meetings over the last two days.
"Everybody at Chelsea FC would like to thank Avram for his contribution since taking over as manager last September.
"We will now be concentrating all our efforts on identifying a new manager for Chelsea and there will be no further comment until that appointment is made."
Chelsea-Mad ran the story on Thursday that the top-brass met at Stamford Bridge to discuss Grant's future and decided that the man who took over from Jose Mourinho was NOT the man they thought they were getting.
Michael Laudrup is the current favourite with Sven-Goran Eriksson second.
But Roberto Mancini is Chelsea-Mad's No 1 choice and I expect the Dane has already being approached to take the hottest seat in world football.
Frank Rijkaard is a distinct possibility but the club have to get this choice right.
Chelsea failed to win any trophy this season and chief executive Peter Kenyon's own position will be called into question should the next manager fail to regain the Premier League next season.
Chelsea must win the Champions League next season also for that man to keep his job for more than a season.
Such is the expectation of Roman Abramovich, who will not accept second best.
The success of Manchester United this season and the embarrassment of FA Cup and Carling Cup failures had turned the west London club from feared opponents into jokes in a matter of months.
Chelsea's decision to sack Jose Mourhino in September has backfired in spectacular fashion, and Grant has paid the price.
Next season if trophies are not filling the Stamford Bridge cabinet, I expect heads higher up the organisation to roll.
The pressure is now on Kenyon to make the right appointment.
To ensure Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba are both at the Bridge next season and to bring in top-class players needed to challenge successfully on the domestic front and also in Europe.
Chelsea-Mad ran the story on Thursday that the top-brass met at Stamford Bridge to discuss Grant's future and decided that the man who took over from Jose Mourinho was NOT the man they thought they were getting.
Michael Laudrup is the current favourite with Sven-Goran Eriksson second.
But Roberto Mancini is Chelsea-Mad's No 1 choice and I expect the Dane has already being approached to take the hottest seat in world football.
Frank Rijkaard is a distinct possibility but the club have to get this choice right.
Chelsea failed to win any trophy this season and chief executive Peter Kenyon's own position will be called into question should the next manager fail to regain the Premier League next season.
Chelsea must win the Champions League next season also for that man to keep his job for more than a season.
Such is the expectation of Roman Abramovich, who will not accept second best.
The success of Manchester United this season and the embarrassment of FA Cup and Carling Cup failures had turned the west London club from feared opponents into jokes in a matter of months.
Chelsea's decision to sack Jose Mourhino in September has backfired in spectacular fashion, and Grant has paid the price.
Next season if trophies are not filling the Stamford Bridge cabinet, I expect heads higher up the organisation to roll.
The pressure is now on Kenyon to make the right appointment.
To ensure Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba are both at the Bridge next season and to bring in top-class players needed to challenge successfully on the domestic front and also in Europe.