Roman - a fool or just badly advised?

Last updated : 13 February 2009 By Paul Lagan

There's an old expression - "A fool and his money is soon parted".
Now I don't know if Roman Abramovich is a fool or not, I suspect he's not, but I and the rest of the world now know he spent £23m getting rid of two managers and their coaching staff recently.
Add the odd £7m payoff for Mr Scolari this week and that means Roman has handed over £30m to people he dismissed as employees of Chelsea Football Club.
There's a lot I could do with £30m.
If Roman wishes to open his wallet a little wider, I'd be delight to supply him my bank account details for a little "transfer" of funds.
I certainly hope he ignores those emails from assasinated Nigerian general's daughters who have millions of pounds locked in secret bank accounts and are in need of a partner to get to the cash.
I also hope Guss Hiddink has a contract which includes severance payment demands - tax included.

So the Chelsea roadshow rolls on and the fans are none the wiser as to the real reasons why Scolari was sacked.
Depending on which newspaper has had the most recent briefing, one can only conclude that player power was responsible for Scolari's downfall.
That of course contradicts the other one which put the blame firmly at Scolari's training, tactical and selection methods.
Unless you believe it was the weather of course.
Actually that last one was made up, but with so many rumours circulating, some authentic (official) from the club and others from late-night telephone calls from disgruntled "sources" one can be forgiven to think that Chelsea has imploded into it's own backside.
Either way, what this shambles of a week has revealed is just how out of control a major club like Chelsea can get in such a small space of time.
I don't believe Roman is a fool at all. He might have taken his eye off the ball recently - I sure he has other pressing matters to attend to.
But what he would have learnt is that those who are supposed to be running the club, those who represent him here on earth have not being as effective as their job titles might suggest they should be.

Roman has being made to look foolish by having to dole out £30m to people he employed on the back of trusted advice.
Roman has contacts in all spheres of football - from international bodies to the simple Chelsea football fan.
He will now be looking a little closer to home to ensure his club and ours do not have to go through this very public blood-letting again.
I have no doubts that in the days to come, more of Chelsea's dirty linen will be aired for all to see.
But the true fans will be at Stamford Bridge cheering on the team against Juventus.
Their patience has being tested to the extreme over the past 18 months - it's close to the point of no return.

Roman is not a fool, he will take note of what's going on - won't he?