Former Chelsea defender Paul Elliott believes that Andre Villas-Boas has no-one to blame but himself for getting the axe from Stamford Bridge.

League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan has blamed the club's structure for Villas-Boas's downfall, while reports have suggested that Blues owner Roman Abramovich has criticised the players for their treatment of the Portuguese boss.

"It was no real surprise," Elliott told talkSPORT. "It wasn't just the defeat, it was the manner of the defeat. Three wins in the last 12 is clearly not good enough for a club of Chelsea's stature.

"Clearly in that Chelsea dressing room there were fractures at the heart of it and I think Villas-Boas has to take lot of a responsibility because he failed to engage those players and manage those players in the right way.

"In the modern day game there is lot of player power. He is 34, there is no doubt he has outstanding potential and I don't doubt he is going to fulfil it but, at this juncture, it was a big ask for him at Chelsea."

Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and Rafael Benitez have been touted as potential candidates for the position.