Chelsea Show Avram Grant The Door...But What Did He Do Wrong?

In a breaking news story that will come as a surprise to few, Chelsea has terminated the contract of manager Avram Grant with immediate effect.

Having signed a four year deal in December, it looks like the Israeli will be heading out of Stamford Bridge with a healthy severance deal.

But the real question is: what mistakes has he made that have cost him his job? And are the expectations of the Premier League's foreign owners too high for first-season managers?

Following the most charismatic man in football was always going to be a tough act to follow.

When Avram Grant stepped into Chelsea's hot seat in September, the West London club was fifth in the league and in a lukewarm run of form, having just drawn 1-1 with Rosenborg.

Grant's appointment came as a shock to many, with some arguing he was merely put into place to agree with Abramovich and act on his whims and expecting a Chelsea plummet down the league.

Despite this, Avram Grant defied all expectations to feature with a charge up the table and a great run in Europe, challenging for both the domestic and Champions League title going into the respective competition's final games.

However, it was clear from the outset that Grant was never going to last.

His apparent lack of passion and questionable tactical nous left many fans feeling disillusioned, despite their club's commendable league position and continual grinding out of results.

Rumors of his dismissal were continual throughout his tenure, and for many, it was a question of when rather than if. Nevertheless, Avram Grant achieved something that Mourinho never could: reaching a European final.

Having also gone into the Premier League's final round with a chance of the title, was too much asked of the Israeli without ever having the reins for a full season?

Grant didn't get the chance for a summer's transfer dealings. He didn't get the chance to make his own team. And he didn't get the chance to prove his doubters wrong.

Don't get me wrong, I also questioned his appointment. But if Abramovich always intended to find a new man at the end of the season, why give him a long-term contract in the winter?

Thaksin Shinawatra has made Eriksson's position untenable with ridiculous attempts to sack him. Abramovich has done similarly and forced his man out of a job despite a more than respectable showing this year.

It has been proven that consistency brings success. Ferguson and Wenger are both world-class managers but have also been given the opportunity to prove themselves.

Grant must have always felt his job was insecure no matter what he did. It is a shame, though, that he produced a sound effort to rebuild following Mourinho and paid the price of just missing out on the pinnacle of European football.

One must wonder whether a missed penalty cost a man his job.