Villas-Boas was given his marching orders yesterday barely eight months after his appointment, leaving the Blues looking for their eighth manager since Roman Abramovich bought the club almost nine years ago.

There were echoes of the 2009 departure of Luiz Felipe Scolari, who lasted just seven months before being axed and the Brazilian had a warning for Villas-Boas' replacement.

"It will be hell for whoever succeeds him," the Palmeiras boss told a news conference in Brazil.

Scolari, who blamed player power for his own sacking, added: "This move is strange - although it's not so strange to me because of what I went through there.

"Some things are known, like the relations with the owner, who has the relationship with some players before the coach.

"Villas-Boas was a champion and he will continue to be.

"He needed to replace at least seven or eight players, even since I was there, but he failed."

League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan was scathing about Chelsea's latest decision to dispense with a manager.

"What's for sure is the club, despite unlimited wealth, haven't yet worked out how to build a successful football club," Bevan told Radio Five Live.

"Looking for what is an eighth manager in nine years is a serious embarrassment to the owner, the club, the fans and the league."

Bevan claimed the frequent managerial changes at Stamford Bridge did not help Villas-Boas develop a relationship with his players.

"Players need to know that the manager's strategy and his job is not in question, there's a clear remit," he said.

"You get success if you get time, and stability will come from that. Otherwise it's very difficult for a manager like Andre to impose his philosophy and build a team."

Villas-Boas' had the lowest win percentage of any Chelsea manager since Glenn Hoddle.

Bevan added: "After only eight months, you can't build that sort of success. The club's still competing in the latter stages of the Champions League, the FA Cup and fighting for a top-four position. If you want success, you must look at the longer term."

Reports suggest that after sacking Villas-Boas, Abramovich read the riot act to the players but Ray Wilkins today leapt to the defence of the squad.

Wilkins, who was controversially fired as Carlo Ancelotti's assistant in November 2010, told talkSPORT: "I found the players an absolute delight to work with.

"They are a very nice bunch of guys, they are a hard working bunch and, coupled with that, they are an extremely talented bunch. We didn't have a problem.

"I don't think the players swayed the owner. It appears they are looking for change at Chelsea and I just feel they went about it too quickly with AVB.

"To change what has been such a force - not only in the Premier League but in European football - overnight, you just can't do that.

"It takes a gradual adjustment. Chelsea have gone hammer and tongs at it and they should have taken their time in switching over."

Reports suggest Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho are top of Abramovich's wishlist to succeed Villas-Boas, with Guus Hiddink having recently taken over as Anzhi Makhachkala manager.

Wilkins said: "It's almost as if all options have been exhausted.

"Hiddink has just gone to Russia so he is out.

"I would say Mourinho because I think Mourinho will leave Real Madrid.

"He's got a wonderful squad of players there but I think he will leave. He, for me, would be the perfect option."

Arsene Wenger accused Chelsea of failing to give Villas-Boas enough time.

Arsenal boss Wenger has also come under severe scrutiny this season, with his side on the brink of going seven years without a trophy.

But, unlike Villas-Boas, he appears to enjoy the full backing of his board.

Wenger said: "All I can say is I feel sorry for Villas-Boas because I know him and I like him as a manager and as a man.

"I feel sorry for him and it's sad every time a manager loses his job because it's a job that demands a full commitment and I think he did that.

"I am sorry he was not given enough time to do his job."