Having appointed Avram Grant as manager Chelsea now face a tense wait to find out if he will be allowed to hold on to the job, reports The Guardian .
He does not hold the Uefa Pro licence that is supposed to be mandatory in the Premier League. The club were aware of the difficulty and are hopeful it can be resolved over the 12-week period of grace that they enjoy.
Grant is thought to possess a coaching qualification earned in his own country and it is believed that the Israel Football Association is attempting to have it recognised by Uefa, although this is not being done specifically for the benefit of the new Chelsea manager. According to reports, Grant has been aware and concerned by his lack of the Pro licence.
It cannot be gained easily since 240 hours of study are involved. The Premier League, though, have been flexible. Extensions have been granted to Glenn Roeder, on health grounds, and to Middlesbrough's manager Gareth Southgate, because his international career was deemed to have restricted his opportunities.
Experienced managers such as Martin O'Neill have been granted an exemption until 2010 after undergoing a five-day refresher course in coaching.
The 52-year-old Grant, a former Israel manager who also won league titles in Israel, may also be deemed deserving of a certain flexibility from the Premier League.
