The Guardian is reporting that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will no longer support the club with his billions from the end of the current season. The executive director, Peter Kenyon, wanted this to happen in 2011, but he believes that the club has matured enough for ties to be severed earlier.

Kenyon predicts that the club will self-sustaining, and profitable in two years time.

"The long-term plan at Stamford Bridge was to create a profitable independent club, and I believe from 2009 this is feasible.

"Should my calculations prove right, I foresee that by 2011 the club will be self-sufficient and profitable at that, and we will witness a constant financial growth thereafter," he added.