FRANK LAMPARD has completed a stunning return to Chelsea.
And so could his notoriously strict fines policy.
Lampard, 44, has agreed to manage the Blues as caretaker boss until the end of the season.
It marks a remarkable comeback after he was sacked in January 2021 following 18 months in charge.
During his initial stint as boss, Lampard accepted no nonsense – and had a whole list of fines printed up for various misdemeanours.
The fines policy was removed by Lamps’ replacement Thomas Tuchel.
But Lampard could opt to bring it back now that he has returned.
The steepest fixed penalty was a £20,000 fine for being late for training.
Players were then hit with another £500 for every minute they missed.
Not reporting an illness or injury more than 90 minutes before training would land players a £10k fine.
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If players failed to give 48 hours notice of not travelling home from a match with the rest of the team, or didn’t turn up to community duties they would be stung for £5k.
Players had to fork out £2,500 each if they were late for matchday departure, treatment, the training report time or medical appointments.
While £1,000 was charged for players being late for the gym, wearing the wrong kit or for a phone ringing during a team meal or meeting.
If players were not speedy with their payments, their fines would be DOUBLED after 14 days.
After his arrival, Tuchel declared “I am not the police” – and admitted that he expected his senior players to take care of team discipline.
Chelsea subsequently won the Champions League in the German’s first six months in charge.
They then lost both domestic cup finals last season while coming third in the Premier League.
Tuchel was axed in September and replaced by Graham Potter, only for the Englishman to be sacked after just 12 wins in 31 games in charge last Sunday.
Speaking about the squad he’s inherited, Lampard said: “You have to make every player feel included. Being here in the short term is a positive because everyone can have a clean slate.
“They players will push each other and I will try and manage that.”
Lampard’s temporary return will allow Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali to run the rule over prospective candidates.
Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann are in the frame, while Antonio Conte has emerged as a shock contender.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
