If the appointment of Lampard goes wrong, then Abramovich has to stay strong and back him
The appointment of Frank Lampard as Chelsea’s head coach may well point to a change of strategy at the football club – and a new way of thinking by the hierarchy.
If that is the case, then they should be congratulated.
It could be the best way forward for them, and in years to come, this summer may well be pin-pointed as the period it all changed for the better.
From the outside looking in, it looks like they could do with a bit of stability.
Sometimes they have been too quick to change managers. A number of them came and went, and there was a lot of chopping and changing.
Yet they always had talented guys at the helm, from Jose Mourinho to Antonio Conte to Guus Hiddink.
They also had Roberto di Matteo in charge and he won the Champions League with them.
Rafa Benitez won the Europa League with the Blues, and Maurizio Sarri lifted the same prize just last month before heading for Juventus, thus opening the door for Frank.
As is the right of people in the media – whether they be former team-mates of Frank’s, or ex-chelsea players or journalists – they have questioned this appointment.
Some think it is too soon for him and the job is too big.
The same people have suggested that failure in the Stamford Bridge hot-seat may well tarnish what Frank achieved as a player with the club.
I have to say that I couldn’t disagree more with that viewpoint.
He served Chelsea with distinction during a 13-year period, and played more than 400 games, scoring 211 times to become the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.
He helped them win three League Championships, four FA Cups, two League Cups and the Champions League.
All of that can never be taken away from him. What he achieved for Chelsea as a footballer must stand alone.
Now it’s a new chapter and a chance to deliver even more success as head coach.
Of course, the flip side is that it doesn’t go to plan and it goes wrong.
If there are blips and bumps, Roman Abramovich needs to stay strong and back his young manager.
Sure, having setbacks can’t be dismissed because management is such a fickle business.
There are such unbelievably high standards now in English football, it is extremely hard to win silverware.
But he has only been in the job for a few days and has taken just a handful of training sessions. So let’s give the guy encouragement and be positive.
He is 41 and has served a full year at Derby County and took them to the Championship play-off final where they lost to Aston Villa.
For his first full season in charge of a football cub, that was a more than decent 12 months.
He managed players well, and also used the loan market to his advantage to get in players such as Mason Mount and Harry Wilson.
It could well be that he isn’t allowed to wheel and deal in the next two transfer windows because of the ban hanging over the club. That will be very restrictive.
But it might just suit because he knows the group of players he has to work with, and he and his backroom staff will work night and day to get the very best out of them.
It could bring a real togetherness and that is vitally important.
Every player in the dressing room just now will know that they have the chance to stake a claim for a first-team spot.
With the chequebook locked away in a drawer for the season, there will be a feeling that places are up for grabs.
Given time, Frank will do very well. He comes from a good stock and there is clearly something in the genes.
His dad, Frank Snr, was a top player, and then there is his uncle, Harry Redknapp and cousin, Jamie.
All are fine football men but, more importantly, good fellas. Frank sits right at home in that company.
It’s always good to see the good guys doing well, and also encouraging for so many young British coaches if one of their own emerges to be successful at a top club.
I totally understand why Chelsea offered him the job and I think he is deserving of it.
I felt very proud and privileged when I was asked to take over as player-manager of Liverpool.
The circumstances were different. It was my first job in management and was also going to continue to play.
I was fortunate that the club was very stable and I inherited the best people in the business – on and off the park – to make my life so much easier.
In Frank’s case, he has a full year under his belt and will be allowed to fully concentrate on being the head coach.
So it wouldn’t be fair to draw comparisons between now and my situation more than 30 years ago. They are two different clubs and no two workplaces are the same.
But what there will be in common between us will be that desire to win and be successful.
Give 100% every day, and that will always give you a good platform to work from.
Frank comes from good stock. His dad was a top player, and his uncle and cousin are also fine football men