Gary Neville on Liam Rosenior: Chelsea owners don't have a clue, fans will be disgusted with situation

Thursday, 23 April 2026 07:59

Gary Neville believes Chelsea's hierarchy "don't have a clue what they're doing" after firing Liam Rosenior on Wednesday, their fifth managerial sacking in less than four years since buying the club.

Rosenior had been appointed as a surprise replacement for Enzo Maresca in January, but seven defeats in the last eight matches has led to his reign being cut short after just four months.

Rosenior had signed a six-year contract with Chelsea when he made the move from Strasbourg, who are owned by Chelsea's parent company BlueCo. But there were chants from Chelsea fans for him to be dismissed during and after the 3-0 loss at Brighton on Tuesday night.

Speaking on Sky Sports News, Neville said he had not expected Rosenior to finish his contract, but said his dismissal was not a reflection on the head coach and instead put the responsibility firmly on the decision-making of Chelsea owners BlueCo.

Chelsea part company with Liam Rosenior
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"I'm not shocked Liam's leaving the club," he said. "I'm shocked he's leaving today. I thought it would probably happen at the end of the season.

"I thought they would persevere until the end of the season after giving him a six-year deal.

"It's not a reflection on Liam at all. He's lost a lot of football matches in the last few weeks and he'll be disappointed with that.

"But it's time for the owners, sporting directors and players to reflect enormously on their role in what's happened in the last few weeks. Their fans will be absolutely disgusted by the way this has gone.

"The owners have got it badly wrong. I said at the time, they've got a group of talented players, young sporting directors in respect of the experience relating to Europe, you've got an ownership that's young in respect that it's only two or three years in. You need some experience somewhere in the club.

"These six-year, eight-year agreements, it's almost laughable from the start. Whether it's for a manager or a player. The owners don't have a clue what they're doing.

"I've made massive mistakes as an owner but sometimes you've got to accept that. I've spoken publicly about the challenges we've had.

"But they're all over the place. I just don't get it, really. You deserve what you get in football and it's a reflection on them, it's not a reflection on a coach who, to be fair, probably shouldn't have been advanced as soon as he was into the role.

"You don't turn down the Chelsea job. I can see why it was appealing but he just has to get on with his coaching career now and put it behind him as quickly as he can. It's a club that is a little bit crazy in its decision-making."

Rosenior's fate was sealed by a fifth Premier League defeat in a row, leaving qualification for next season's Champions League unlikely. Chelsea failed to score in each of those five league defeats - their worst goalless losing league run since 1912.

He leaves the club seventh in the Premier League, seven points off fifth-placed Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

Calum McFarlane will step into the role again until the end of the season, having overseen a 1-1 draw with Manchester City and a 2-1 defeat to Fulham during his interim spell earlier in the season.

Sky Sports News understands the process of appointing Rosenior's permanent successor has yet to begin and no potential candidates have been spoken to. A club statement said they would "undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment".

Rosenior's departure marks BlueCo's fifth sacking in less than four years since taking over the club and an average reign per permanent manager of just 258 days. Remarkably, that is less than half of the average under previous owner Roman Abramovich, who himself was infamous for ruthless managerial dismissals.

On the Blues' next appointment, Neville added: "Who next for Chelsea? Roy Keane used this description at the weekend - I don't care. Honestly. Chelsea are a massive club, an amazing club.

"I'm sure everyone realised Liam would lose his job. That's not a surprise, no matter when it happened, everyone recognised he wouldn't be here at the start of next season.

"But the way it's happened, it's just not right. I've been there myself, I've sacked a manager after four months and it's a reflection on you when you get it wrong. These long contracts though - a six-year contract? It's just bizarre."

'Mistakes have been made but Chelsea aren't in a state of disarray'

Sky Sports News' chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol:

"The Chelsea owners don't speak in public much but if they were here they would hold their hands up and say some mistakes have been made this season.

"Enzo Maresca deciding to leave midway through the season, that destabilised the club. Deciding to give the job to Liam Rosenior was a mistake and they have held their hands up.

"But they would also point to the fact that this squad that people keep criticising is the same squad that beat Barcelona 3-0 at Stamford Bridge in November, so they must have some pretty good players. And nine of those players that played against Barcelona played against Brighton.

"I don't think Chelsea are in a total state of disarray. I don't think it's a situation where we should have open season to kick Chelsea when they are down.

"Yes, they have made mistakes. The finances don't look good, at the moment. But again, the owners would say that the accounts next year will be better because of money from the Club World Cup and being in the Champions League this season as well."