Holy shit i cant belive this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chelsea will make a further statement on Thursday regarding the club's vacant managerial position.
Jose Mourinho dramatically left Stamford Bridge in the early hours of Thursday morning after over three years in the job.
Former Chelsea midfielder Didier Deschamps was initially installed as the favourite to replace Mourinho at the helm.
But reports now suggest Blues owner Roman Abramovich could turn to Avram Grant to pick up the mantle in West London.
Grant arrived at the club in the summer as director of football following a spell at fellow Premier League side Portsmouth.
The Israeli is expected to be placed in caretaker charge of Chelsea for Sunday's showdown with champions Manchester United at Old Trafford.
However, rumours claim Grant could be given the position on a more long-term basis due to his close links with Abramovich.
Emergency
Chelsea are moving to replace Mourinho who is understood to have contacted five senior players on Wednesday afternoon to inform them of his departure.
Peter Kenyon, the club's chief executive, Bruce Buck, the chairman, and Abramovich's key aide, Eugene Tenenbaum, were called to an emergency meeting at Stamford Bridge to discuss the emerging crisis.
The club eventually confirmed Mourinho's departure in the early hours of Thursday when they posted a statement on the club's official website.
The statement read: "Chelsea Football Club and Jose Mourinho have agreed to part company today (Thursday) by mutual consent."
Many of Chelsea's staff and players had been at a Fulham Broadway cinema as they watched a screening of 'Blue Revolution' - a new documentary about the Abramovich years.
Ignored
But senior players like captain John Terry and England midfielder Frank Lampard were absent and the remainder, except a reluctant England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, refused to talk to the media.
Mourinho also attended the evening but ignored the waiting media and looked decidedly glum.
It is thought the impasse between Mourinho and Abramovich came to a head after their 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa earlier this month.
Mourinho has been at loggerheads with the Russian since their disagreement over the lack of funds to sign players during last January's transfer window.
The Portuguese - whose £5.2million a year contract was due to expire in 2010 - has been dismayed by the constant watering down of his authority
