Liam Rosenior leaves Chelsea three-and-a-half months into contract until 2032

Rosenior has taken charge of only 23 matches

Calum McFarlane in interim charge for rest of season

Liam Rosenior has left Chelsea after Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat at Brighton. The head coach has gone three and a half months into a six-and-a-half-year contract after taking charge of only 23 matches.

The loss at Brighton was Chelsea’s fifth in a row in the Premier League without scoring and extinguished any realistic hope of finishing in the top five spots that would guarantee Champions League qualification.

Calum McFarlane, who was in caretaker charge for two games in January after Enzo Maresca’s exit, will take the team for the rest of the season, starting with Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Leeds. Chelsea want Rosenior’s permanent successor to have top-level experience.