The Times says Israeli held one-to-one meetings with every member of his first-team squad over the past few days, during which he told them that he had been given the job as first-team coach on a long-term basis and that they could either accept his appointment or move elsewhere.

John Terry, the club captain, has also given his backing to the new man in charge, the captain telling his team-mates in a players' meeting that they have nothing to gain by feeling sorry for themselves.