Grant was sacked as Chelsea boss after eight months in the job

Sacked Chelsea manager Avram Grant has revealed he rejected the chance to return to his old job as the club's director of football.

The Israeli coach joined the Blues as director of football last July before succeeding Jose Mourinho in September.

"I understand the offer and why it was made but I thought that, from my point of view, it was not the correct move," said the 53-year-old.

"I saw that it was not a good move for me at this stage."

Chelsea finished runners-up in the Premier League and Champions League and reached the Carling Cup final under Grant's stewardship but he was sacked at the weekend after two days of talks between Grant and the club's owner Roman Abramovich and chief executive Peter Kenyon

During his eight-month tenure, his position as manager was subject to constant speculation.

I have a contract until 2010 and I feel fine in my role as first assistant Henk ten Cate

He attracted criticism from fans who claimed his team lacked style and was also criticised for losing February's League Cup final against Tottenham.

Speaking in Tel Aviv where he was due to lecture at a Uefa Pro coaching course, Grant denied he had hired lawyers to fight for a higher compensation package.

Newspaper reports suggest Grant will receive around £5m from Chelsea, but he said: "There are no problems with Chelsea, if I need to I will talk to them directly, not through lawyers.

"The amount doesn't even come close to what was written in the papers but I won't mind if somebody will be prepared to make up the difference."

Meanwhile, Henk ten Cate, who left his job as Ajax head coach to become Grant's assistant in October, was confident he would be at Stamford Bridge next season.

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The 53-year-old said: "Half an hour before Chelsea officially announced the Grant news, I was called by Peter Kenyon.

"He told me the news and he also said that the sacking of Grant would have no consequences for me. I would rather believe him than the newspapers reports."

Ten Cate will hold talks with Chelsea bosses later this week. "That talk was already planned for months, so it has nothing to do with the recent developments," he added.

"In January I had such an evaluation conversation and then we agreed that we would do it again after the season. For me it's simple, I have a contract until 2010 and I feel fine in my role as first assistant."