Next Chelsea manager: Derby County owner gives expected timeline for Frank Lampard exit

Derby County owner Mel Morris believes it is only a 'matter of time' before Frank Lampard becomes Chelsea's next head coach.

The negotiations between the Blues and their record goalscorer have been ongoing for some time, however with the Rams players heading back for pre-season training today, Lampard has been excused from taking the sessions.

In their statement, it said that Derby would allow the time to be take for Chelsea to continue the negotiations with Lampard, with the Blues legend still expected to be the next head coach.

And Derby owner Morris states that he is expecting it to be concluded within the coming days.

"Obviously, like we have said before when Frank and I first met we discussed this very eventuality, the only difference is the timing of this," Morris told talkSPORT.

"Of course our belief to this moment of time is that Frank and Chelsea need to have the time now to finalise the transaction between them.

"You could say that [they have had plenty of time] but in fairness, Frank was away on vacation, he didn't come back until Friday. A well-deserved vacation, it was a pretty tough season. I think that has been a big factor.

Derby County owner Mel Morris (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

"We will now accelerate the efforts [of finding his replacement], obviously a lot of activity to go on this week and we are still very keen to get something sorted out in terms of the forthcoming tour to Florida.

Asked it is just a matter of time for Lampard to get done, Morris added: "I am assuming so. Of course it is a matter between Chelsea and Frank at this stage but they have the opportunity to finalise matters."

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