Prime suspects on the Bridge hit list

Divide the paper into two columns. Above one write the heading: ' Players to keep', above the other, 'Players to go'. There could even be a third column, headed '?'.

Just who would the next Chelsea manager want to keep? Well, for a start, John Terry and Frank Lampard, the heartbeat of the Blues.

Full-backs Wayne Bridge and Glen Johnson would also definitely remain. Bridge has blossomed into a top-class defender while Johnson, although coltish and still naive at times, has fantastic potential.

Four names so far and all English. But to those should be added Carlo Cudicini, who will certainly challenge one definite summer arrival, Petr Cech, for the first-team goalkeeper's jersey, plus William Gallas, whose pace at the back is so vital in the modern game.

In midfield, who should we keep to play alongside Lampard? Damien Duff for sure, if he stays fit and Scott Parker, who has yet to settle in following his move from Charlton. Joe Cole has had a fragmented season and the end product is too often missing but he brings a different dimension and should not be discarded.

Up front Eidur Gudjohnsen is a fine, intelligent striker who would benefit from playing more games. The rest need a little more thought.

Okay, so they are the players to stay but what about those to go, surplus to requirements?

The first thing to say is that wanting to shift players and actually doing so can be two entirely separate things.

Contracts have to be taken into account, as do offers from interested clubs. Players on hugely inflated salaries will think more than twice before leaving, preferring instead to sit tight and pick up a small fortune. The new man will also not want to leave himself short of players. Cech and Arjen Robben may already be signed up but he cannot afford to leave himself threadbare.

Working from the defence, though, goalkeepers Neil Sullivan and Marco Ambrosio would ideally go, along with Mario Melchiot, whose contract expires in June, Celestine Babayaro, whose season has been plagued by injury, and probably Marcel Desailly, who has served Chelsea well but who is now beginning to creak a little.

With central defender Walter Samuel a likely summer arrival, where does that leave Robert Huth? Perhaps it would be a good idea to loan out the young German for a season to continue his education.

Also definitely on their way following the end of their contracts are Emmanuel Petit and Winston Bogarde, at last!

The biggest question mark lies in midfield and in particular over Juan Veron. The extraordinary scenes, or more to the point sounds, at last Saturday's Southampton match could not have gone unnoticed by the Bridge hierarchy.

When Veron entered the fray as a substitute he was loudly booed thanks to his extraordinary lacklustre performance against Monaco in the European Cup semi-final first leg.

Any successfully completed pass was met by ironic cheers and every unsuccessful one given the bird.

The crowd were taking the Michael out of a £15million player and making it clear they did not think spending an estimated total of £45m over the course of his contract when everything is totted up was worth it. No one there could remember such a supposed star being treated like this.

Provided the club recoup a healthy part of the £15m they paid for the underachieving Argentine - Inter Milan are said to be prepared to offer £10m - they should be happy.

Claude Makelele has struggled to settle. A decent offer would be tempting, as it would with Geremi, who has been solid but no more than that.

And what of Jesper Gronkjaer? His pace is undeniable but with David Beckham pondering on whether a quick return to these shores would help repair more than a stuttering playing career, the unpredictable Dane could well be on his way.

Up front, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has made his usual mutterings but is he going to want to move on when he is earning a fortune in wages and has one year left on his contract?

Hernan Crespo's body language against Monaco was blatant enough and his sojourn at Stamford Bridge could be brief, while Adrian Mutu remains an enigma.

The new manager must also consider-the loan players. Russian midfielder Alexei Smertin's spell at Portsmouth is up this summer but Chelsea would not be against extending it, while striker Carlton Cole will also have another season at Charlton.

Boudewijn Zenden will return from his loan spell at Middlesbrough but looks to have no future at Stamford Bridge, while Mikael Forssell is being allowed to remain at Birmingham, a debatable decision considering he has scored 21 goals for the Midlands club this season.

Whatever happens, it is vital for Chelsea - now that they have a strategy - to build a team rather than a group of talented individuals.

It will take time and, as the departing Ranieri knows, Rome - let alone Chelsea - wasn't built in a day.

The Italian will be a hard act to follow and second place in the Premiership plus the semi-finals of the Champions League devilishly difficult to match.

The Russian revolution is well under way in west London.

What is needed now is a cool head and a steady hand.