The Spanish coach was installed as interim manager in November 2012, replacing Roberto Di Matteo, but his tenure has been permeated by off-field politics and fan hostility.

While the Blues' Russian owner is already mulling over possible replacements, the search for a new manager - the 11th of the Abramovich era - won't begin in earnest until the season is over.

"We really haven't started that yet, we all have some ideas, and certainly Roman Abramovich is thinking about it, but at the moment we're concentrating on the end of the season," Buck said.

"We're really trying to get top three or top four place in the Premier League so we get in the Champions League next year.

"That's really important for us and of course we're still in two big competitions - UEFA Cup and FA Cup - so I think the real search for a new manager will begin once the season ends in the middle of May."

Speculation has been rife that current Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho could return to Stamford Bridge, and Buck refused to rule out the possibility of Chelsea appointing a former manager.

"I am completely open-minded about it," he said when questioned about the possibility of a past employee returning to the west London club.