JOSE MOURINHO’S future as Chelsea manager is in suspense over his failure to lift the team out of its alarming slump, according to British press reports Wednesday.

    The Daily Mail said that the Chelsea board met to discuss Mourinho’s position Wednesday, while the Daily Telegraph claimed the club’s hierarchy was drawing up a list of potential replacements.

    Premier League champion last season, Chelsea is currently just a point above the relegation zone after losing nine of its 16 matches to date. Reports suggest it would cost Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich between 10 million pounds (US$15 million) and 40 million pounds to sack Mourinho for a second time, having previously dismissed the Portuguese in 2007.

    Mourinho signed a new four-year contract in August. Chelsea gave him a public vote of confidence in October, but there has been no official communication from the club on his position since then. Mourinho was taking the team through the works as usual at the club’s training ground in Cobham on Wednesday.

    (SD-Agencies)