Old boy Steve up for Jose's revolution

If anyone should be au fait with all the nuances of this club, the exact position of the cupboards and if any of them contain skeletal remains, it is Clarke.

That makes the former defender just as valuable to new boy Mourinho as the rest of the coaching staff he has brought with him from Portugal.

Besides Hollins, Clarke has worked under a long list of managers, including Bobby Campbell, Ian Porterfield, Dave Webb, Glenn Hoddle and Ruud Gullit.

The Dutchman was so impressed with Clarke that, when he left Stamford Bridge and went to Newcastle, he took the Scot with him as assistant manager.

When Gullit left Clarke worked with Sir Bobby Robson for a year before returning to Chelsea as coach of their youth team.

It is obvious from his comments that the strong emphasis Claudio Ranieri placed on the first team at Chelsea was frustrating.

"Perhaps the previous-regime was a bit too closed and not receptive to the rest of the club. Perhaps we can be a club again and not a first-team plus everything else,'' said the 40-yearold.

"It is not meant to be a criticism of the previous manager but there was a decision back in 1995 to concentrate on the first team and the academy has suffered a bit as a result. That will be addressed."

It is the way of things at a football club that whenever there is a change of manager most of the playing and coaching staff feel more than a twinge of insecurity.

"You always wonder when changes are made but I have to be honest and say I felt quite secure in the youth team job. I didn't see any reason why I should go," said Clarke.

As it turned out, there was a change but it was definitely upwardly and mobile.

"The changes worked out really well for me," he said.

"Although it will take me the next six or seven weeks before I will really know what my job will entail.

"The first thing is that I have to get to know Jose, how he works and what he expects. "I have been here a long time but I have to integrate all over again. Jose and his staff are very close. They know what is expected. Now I have to find out what is expected of me within the group.

"Obviously, I have a good knowledge of the players here, particularly the young ones. It's going to be quite important to feed Jose that information."

Clarke is understandably thrilled about the challenge which lies ahead for him.

"It's a great opportunity for me," he said. "It's early days yet but I'm very impressed with the new manager. He seems very sure of what he wants and the method he will use to achieve his objectives."

Unlike Clarke, the new Chelsea manager has not played the game at any serious level but the Scot doesn't see that as a problem.

"I don't believe Arsene Wenger was a top player and he's not a bad manager, is he?" said Clarke.

"Jose's record is very impressive and he's obviously very good at what he does. There have been a lot of good players who have subsequently failed in management.

"This is an exciting time for the club and its supporters. Anyone who doubts that need only look at those pitches. They're a bit different from my day.

"A lot of time and money has been spent on making them good enough for the calibre of players we have here now."