We're all friends at the Bridge now, says Chelsea chairman Buck

There was an uncomfortable atmosphere at the club last season but chairman Buck is convinced those days are over.

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For a start, owner Abramovich is expected to attend more games after rumblings of discontent during the last campaign about the team's style of play.

That will be addressed this coming season when manager Jose Mourinho abandons the percentage game that has been Chelsea's staple diet for much of the past three seasons and adopts a more expansive approach.

Buck said: "Roman's as enthusiastic as the first day he bought the club. Jose wants us to be a little more exciting in terms of the football and to use our wingers. As a fan, which is what I am, I would like to see a little bit more of that."

That was partly the reason behind the decision to spend £13million on Lyon winger Florent Malouda, despite chief executive Peter Kenyon being under instruction to reduce spending as part of the club's streamlining.

Buck added: "We want to do more in terms of developing the academy and making sure that young players make a positive contribution to the first team.

"It is a coincidence that the money has dropped off this summer — it's just that the type of players we needed were available and they happened to be free transfers.

"If the right player came along and the transfer fee was a lot of money, but he was value for that amount of money, we would give it serious consideration. Roman has never said the chequebook is closed."

Whether various parties, with varying degrees of influence, can agree on future player acquisitions is another issue that will be played out over the next nine months.

Avram Grant is the latest name to be added to a mix of decision makers at Stamford Bridge that now reads — in no particular order — Frank Arnesen, Abramovich, Eugene Tenenbaum, Buck, Kenyon and Mourinho.

Grant's role at the club remains vague — "he is trying to co-ordinate and look at strategy for the next 10 years," was Buck's attempt — but he will not be a threat to Mourinho's position.

Buck said: "I don't think he is a threat to Jose and I don't think Jose thinks he is — and that's what is important.

"We thought there was something missing in the management and the co-ordination of the whole football programme — not just the first team, the academy or the scouting system but bringing it all together.

"We are trying to build for the long term, not just for this year. We aren't trying to develop a dynasty as such, but we are trying to develop something long term and that's where Avram can help us.

"In terms of transfers, that is a collective decision and it always has been. The manager, Frank Arnesen (youth development director) and Avram make the decisions and the board is responsible for the deals. Avram can't overrule a transfer. It's Jose's call."

For his part, Grant claimed he was developing a "wonderful" relationship with Mourinho, saying: "I have absolutely no intention of interfering in his decisions. I don't have anything to do with determining the team. My role is crystal clear and it is not meant in any way to undermine Mourinho."

Negotiations are ongoing with John Terry, Frank Lampard and Arjen Robben over new contracts, but there is no rush to conclude talks. Buck added: "We would like to get it done, but there's no deadline and doesn't need to be."