Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck says the board is preparing for life without manager Guus Hiddink.

Buck has insisted the club have already begun planning for next season without Hiddink because they can't afford to wait until November to see if he can become their permanent manager.

Hiddink revealed last week he has a clause in his Russia contract which could see him leave in November should they fail to qualify and will meet officials in Moscow tomorrow to discuss the situation.

But Buck said: "The situation is the same as it was when he came. We are planning on that basis."