Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has continued his ruthless overhaul of the club’s backroom staff by sacking head groundsman Jason Griffin after over 30 years of service. The American chief has also culled Griffin’s assistant and son, Reisse, who himself had worked at Stamford Bridge for over a decade.
Boehly has rung the changes at Chelsea since his consortium with Clearlake Capital bought the club for £4.25billion last summer.
The hierarchy, coaching staff, playing staff and medical staff have switched under his watch, and the grounds staff are no exception.
The Mail report that Chelsea have cut ties with Griffin and his son, Reisse, who will become the latest crucial figures at the club to depart.
Griffin has been at Chelsea for more than three decades but became the Blues’ head groundsman in 2003.
He has since been responsible for leading a team to oversee playing surfaces at Stamford Bridge, the club’s Cobham training ground and the women’s and youth teams’ pitches at Kingsmeadow.
Griffin and his team have earned widespread recognition for their work at Chelsea throughout the years, so their departures come as a shock.
But Chelsea refused to explain the decision to the Mail, stating they don’t comment on personnel matters.
Most of Griffin’s work took place away from the media spotlight as he attempted to provide the club’s teams with the best playing surfaces possible.
But he made the headlines in April 2008 when he clashed with Manchester United defender Patrice Evra and former Red Devils fitness coach Tony Strudwick.
As Griffin started to work on the pitch after Chelsea defeated United 2-1, Evra barged into him before Strudwick engaged in a row.
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