We reported this week that Chelsea were giving Rosenior their backing, but that our sources were unconvinced he would continue in his role if their slide persisted - and those fears have now come to light.
A 3-0 defeat to Brighton on Tuesday - and one of Chelsea’s worst performances of the season - means they have now lost five successive games and have failed to score in any of them.
The club have decided to remove Rosenior from his role ahead of the FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United as they began to fear there was no end to the slump in sight.
Chelsea have drifted away from Champions League qualification by way of their league position and, according to insiders, Rosenior has failed to gain the respect or control of the playing squad.
His tactics and team selections have failed to help him establish authority within the first-team setup. Sources close to the set-up have told Flashscore that while his attitude was refreshing when he stepped in, players very quickly began to feel he was out of his depth in the job, and he struggled to change that feeling.
The recent situation with Enzo Fernandez is also believed to have been a moment of friction, as the star midfielder was handed an internal suspension.
Appointing Rosenior was always a bold decision. He had no Premier League managerial experience, yet was drafted in from Strasbourg, Chelsea’s sister club in France, and handed a six-year contract.
He has failed to last even six months.
Enzo Maresca lost his job at Chelsea after a breakdown in relations with senior figures, and Rosenior replaced him in January.
Chelsea’s slide has been alarming, and their only wins of note recently have come in the FA Cup against lower-league opposition.
In the immediate aftermath of Tuesday’s defeat at Brighton, sources began to suggest Rosenior would lose his job ahead of the weekend’s game at Wembley against Leeds.
Chelsea have had to make quick decisions on who will take over from Rosenior, and it is suggested that this is one reason an announcement was not made in the immediate hours after the loss.
Calum McFarlane was the interim boss the last time Chelsea changed managers, and the club will place trust in him again while they decide on a permanent appointment.
The club were not prepared to make a change at this stage, as they genuinely hoped to show loyalty to Rosenior and believed he could turn things around.
As such, they have not made inroads with any candidates to take over full-time at the moment, although it is believed Como boss Cesc Fabregas is one of the names of interest.
