Hiddink could maintain Blues link

Chelsea's interim coach Guus Hiddink is considering a consultant's role with the club when his current deal expires at the end of the season.

And a potential barrier to the Dutchman remaining at Stamford Bridge in some capacity has been removed after a key figure in the Russian FA claimed he was happy for him to continue his dual role.

"There had to be a contract or my work in Chelsea would be impossible from a legal point of view," Hiddink said. "Yes, there is such a contract. It expires on May 31. They offered me to continue working for them after that date as a consultant."

He added: "I'll need to have a look at how the situation is going to develop. Maybe I can be useful for Chelsea in that role."

General secretary of the Russian FA Alexey Sorokin has, meanwhile, revealed that his employers would be open to the current situation continuing beyond May.

"If Chelsea say they would like to continue we are ready to discuss it with the owners," he told the Daily Mail.

"We are comfortable with the situation. We would be uncomfortable if it were a Russian club because when a coach comes from a Russian club to the national team he tends to look after his players more than the players from other clubs. But there is no such contradiction here.

"If he says he can handle it, we have no reasons not to believe it. He is a responsible person with a lot of experience and if he takes that responsibility he will perform for certain."