Chelsea promoted Frank Arnesen to the role of sporting director with immediate effect, the Premier League soccer club said. Captain John Terry continues to be linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge.

Arnesen, who will maintain his work with the reserve and youth teams, will also now take on responsibilities relating to the coordination of first-team activity and supporting the manager, Chelsea said today on its Web site.

Chelsea said it needed increased senior support for new coach Carlo Ancelotti, who joined the club last month from AC Milan. The west London team had been looking for a manager after Guus Hiddink's interim tenure ended in May.

Ancelotti told reporters on July 6 that he wanted England center-back Terry to spearhead Chelsea's attempt to win Europe's elite Champions League for a first time. He said, "there's no price for the 28-year-old, the subject of interest from Manchester City."

Terry yesterday asked Blues owner Roman Abramovich for the opportunity to talk to City, the Sunday Mirror and the News of the World said.

City is set to bid 50 million pounds ($81 million) for Terry and is prepared to make him English soccer's highest-paid player on 250,000 pounds a week, the Mirror added. Terry has told friends that he is unhappy at Chelsea, the newspaper said.

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