Newton reveals Lamps theory

10:11am Friday 4th July 2008

Former Chelsea player Eddie Newton believes Frank Lampard has got a difficult decision to make over his future at Stamford Bridge when he returns to pre-season training on Monday.

Newton, who has left Chelsea to take up a role as assistant to new MK Dons manager Roberto Di Matteo, had been working as a coach with the Chelsea Academy since a knee injury forced him out of the game eight years ago.

Lampard, wanted by Inter Milan, has one year left on his contract, and Newton said: "Frank has got decisions to make. I am a Chelsea boy through and through and I would love him to be at Chelsea but those decisions have to be made."

He added: "You want to play football at the highest level and pit your wits against the best in the world and whether that is in England, Spain or Italy, it is up to you and maybe Frank is looking at all his options because you don't want to be looking back at your career and regretting things."

Newton also believes Chelsea have pulled off a real managerial coup in landing Luiz Felipe Scolari and he hopes to tap into some of his training tactics and implement them at Stadium:mk next season.

"I think Scolari is a really good coup," Newton added. "He can touch a lot of talented players from around the world. He is very respected and there will be entertainment at Stamford Bridge next season.

"I made my way through the ranks at Chelsea and they fast-tracked me through the coaching system.

"I was coaching the under-16s last season but Robbie (Di Matteo) phoned me out of the blue and suddenly an opportunity was there I could not refuse. I told everyone at Chelsea and they backed me 100% and told me to go for it.

"It was a wrench to leave Chelsea and when I go back to London I will say goodbye to everyone. I've been at the club since I was 14 as a player and a coach. I am now 36, so that is a long time.

"It is a wrench for me. But I will always be talking to certain people in the club. I will be talking to them to see if I can take one or two young players with me if they are available."