Ian Holloway claims that Frank Lampard’s pre-existing relationship with Roman Abramovich gives him a "massive advantage" over all of the other Chelsea head coaches since the Russian billionaire bought the club in 2003.
But the former QPR and Crystal Palace managers also believes that Lampard is an excellent coach who deserves his opportunity at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have lost four of their past five league games, three of them to struggling sides, and could fall out of the Champions League places with a defeat away to arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow afternoon.
Yet Holloway is impressed that Lampard has not displayed any angst during the recent downturn in form.
“Because Frank knows the owner, he has got a massive advantage over everyone else because they already have a relationship," he said.
"It’s a relationship built on ‘you’re one of my best players, I love you, come on my yacht.’ Fantastic, he has earned that right but he doesn’t ever look bothered. Yet anyway.
“You can’t hide from it because the media coverage is so massive. Flaws start to show. At Chelsea there is no chance of that being shown at the minute because of the relationships that are already there and made through quality, a quality relationship between the two of them, between Frank and the owner.”
Holloway says the work Lampard and his backroom staff did at Derby County last year was more than enough to prove their credentials, though, because the Rams have had so many issues.
Lampard, with a team featuring Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori on loan, reached the play-off final only to lose to Tammy Abraham's Aston Villa. Derby currently sit in 16th position under new manager Phillip Cocu, showing that the East Midlands side were perhaps exceeding expectations last season.
“What they did at Derby is quite amazing,” Holloway added. “That was a tough job because they have failed when it matters so regularly. Frank almost got them over that and there is a blockage at the club that [Phillip] Cocu is finding out about now.
“I’m delighted Chelsea were brave to give to him and we’ll now see what he is really like because he has money to spend and with that there is pressure.”
