Chelsea show faith in Grant with four-year deal

Chelsea have crushed suggestions that Avram Grant, seen here 10 December 2007, was only a stop-gap appointment by handing the former Israel boss a new four-year contract as the west London club's manager/first-team coach.

Chelsea have crushed suggestions that Avram Grant was only a stop-gap appointment by handing the former Israel boss a new four-year contract as the west London club's manager/first-team coach.

The unexpected news was announced by the club on Thursday, three days before Grant takes Chelsea to Arsenal for a crunch clash with the Premier League leaders.

The new deal for Grant, 52, is a reward for the strong form Chelsea have shown since the former Israel manager took over from Jose Mourinho in September.

Although Chelsea lost his first match in charge to Manchester United, they are since unbeaten in 16 games and have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League as winners of their group.

A victory on Sunday would allow them to draw level with Arsenal on points in the Premier League title battle.

Grant first came to England in 2006 to take up a role as technical director at Portsmouth.

He moved to fill a similar role at Chelsea earlier this year and was placed in charge of the first team when Mourinho left the club.