Fan power convinced Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to offer new terms to Ashley Cole. The Mail on Sunday says Abramovich has offered an olive branch to hostile Chelsea fans by handing England defender Ashley Cole a new contract to stay at Stamford Bridge beyond the summer.

Abramovich, shaken by demonstrations against interim manager Rafa Benitez and the decision to let Frank Lampard leave at the end of the season, has awarded Cole a one-year deal worth £8million with an option to stay at Stamford Bridge beyond that.

Cole, 32, will sign the contract this week and his decision to remain rather than accept the advances of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, will delight Chelsea fans, who feared the old guard was being dismantled by the Russian owner.