When the Chelsea hierarchy meet to discuss who is responsible for the club’s failure to qualify for the Champions League, they should take a long look in the mirror.

Putting their poor transfer business to one side, the board’s passive approach toward coach Antonio Conte means they already have to take a fair share of the blame.

Under owner Roman Abramovich, Chelsea have a reputation for being ruthless when their place in Europe’s premier club competition is under threat.

Jose Mourinho, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Andre Villas-Boas and Roberto Di Matteo were axed after a campaign started to go badly wrong.

This season’s unlikely bid to finish in the top four came to an appropriate end on Sunday when they surrendered meekly to Newcastle, losing 3-0.

It seemed fitting that the man orchestrating their downfall was Rafael Benitez, a former interim manager at Stamford Bridge who salvaged 2012-13 by securing third place in the table as well as the Europa League trophy.

Indeed, on four of the five occasions the Blues made a change in the dug-out mid-season, it had a positive impact.

In 2007-8, under Avram Grant, they reached their first Champions League Final and were runners-up in the top flight; in 2008-9, Guus Hiddink took them to third, a Champions League semi-final and the FA Cup while in 2011-12 Di Matteo lifted the European Cup and FA Cup. The trick only failed in 2015-16, but given Chelsea were one point off the bottom three when Hiddink replaced Mourinho before Christmas, the downturn was too great and they finished 10th.

Chelsea’s display at St James’ Park rivalled other capitulations against lesser opposition this term, like the 4-1 demolition at Watford. Yet despite how dire things looked at Vicarage Road in February, Chelsea were still fourth with 12 League fixtures remaining and in a position where a new appointment could still make a difference.

In Pictures | Premier League 2017-18 final day | 13/05/2018 51 show all In Pictures | Premier League 2017-18 final day | 13/05/2018 1/51 Liverpool vs Brighton Mohamed Salah celebrates after breaking the Premier League goals in a season record. REUTERS 2/51 Liverpool vs Brighton Liverpool's defender Dejan Lovren celebrates after scoring their second goal. AFP/Getty Images 3/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal A banner honouring outgoing Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger being pulled by a plane. PA 4/51 Swansea City vs Stoke City Swansea fans display a banner in protest against the bored as they were relegated to the Championship. Action Images via Reuters 5/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom Crystal Palace's Patrick van Aanholt walks out with children. REUTERS 6/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Arsene Wenger walks out for his last game as Arsenal manager. REUTERS 7/51 Swansea City vs Stoke City Swansea City's English midfielder Leon Britton waves as he plays his final match. AFP/Getty Images 8/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Newcastle fans unveil a banner before the Premier League match. Getty Images 9/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Arsene Wenger walks out for his last game as Arsenal manager. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 10/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Chelsea's Antonio Conte reacts during the Premier League match at St James' Park REUTERS 11/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Chelsea's Olivier Giroud reacts during the Premier League match at St James' Park. PA 12/51 Manchester United vs Watford Manchester United fans display a banner for Sir Alex Ferguson, who continues his recovery from a brain haemorrhage. AFP/Getty Images 13/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Former Tottenham and England player Paul Gascoigne performs for the fans on the pitch at half time. AFP/Getty Images 14/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Newcastle United's Ayoze Perez celebrates scoring their second goal. REUTERS 15/51 Burnley vs Bournemouth Burnley's Chris Wood celebrates with Matthew Lowton after scoring their first goal. Action Images via Reuters 16/51 Swansea City vs Stoke City Swansea boss Carlos Carvalhal looks dejected during their defeat to Stoke. Getty Images 17/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom Wilfried Zaha scores Palace's first goal at Selhurst Park. PA 18/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Erik Lamela celebrates after Tottenham score their third goal against Leicester. PA 19/51 Manchester United vs Watford Jose Mourinho and Michael Carrick share a laugh on the touchline. REUTERS 20/51 West Ham vs Everton Manuel Lanzini scores West Ham's third goal. CameraSport via Getty Images 21/51 West Ham vs Everton Marko Arnautovic celebrates after scoring West Ham's second goal. Getty Images 22/51 Swansea City vs Stoke City Stoke City's Peter Crouch celebrates with Lasse Sorensen and Xherdan Shaqiri after scoring their winning goal. Action Images via Reuters 23/51 Manchester United vs Watford Michael Carrick poses with his children on the pitch at Old Trafford. PA 24/51 Manchester United vs Watford Michael Carrick waves goodbye to the Old Trafford. PA 25/51 Southampton vs Manchester City Gabriel Jesus celebrates his winning goal that sealed City's record 100th point. Getty Images 26/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Dwight Gayle puts Newcastle ahead. REUTERS 27/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Former Tottenham player Paul Gascoigne is cheered by the fans at half time. REUTERS 28/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom Crystal Palace fans at Selhurst Park. REUTERS 29/51 Manchester United vs Watford Marcus Rashford puts Manchester United ahead. REUTERS 30/51 Swansea vs Stoke City Stoke's Papa Ndiaye celebrates with Peter Crouch after scoring their first goal. REUTERS 31/51 Liverpool vs Brighton Liverpool celebrate Mohamed Salah's opener. REUTERS 32/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Harry Kane holds his head with Tottenham trailing against Leicester. AFP/Getty Images 33/51 Liverpool vs Brighton Dejan Lovren in action with Brighton's Beram Kayal. REUTERS 34/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey in action with Huddersfield Town's Jonathan Hogg. REUTERS 35/51 Swansea vs Stoke City Mike van der Hoorn (left) and Stoke City's Darren Fletcher battle for possession. PA 36/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Harry Kane equalises for Tottenham Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images 37/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Jamie Vardy celebrates scoring his side's first goal. PA 38/51 West Ham vs Everton West Ham United's Angelo Ogbonna in action with Everton's Idrissa Gueye, Action Images via Reuters 39/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom Crystal Palace's James McArthur in action with West Bromwich Albion's James McClean. REUTERS 40/51 Southampton vs Manchester City Southampton's Oriol Romeu (left) and Manchester City's Raheem Sterling battle for the ball. PA 41/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Arsene Wenger walks out onto the pitch before kick-off. EPA 42/51 Manchester United vs Watford Manchester United's Ashley Young in action with Watford's Will Hughes. REUTERS 43/51 Liverpool vs Brighton One of the biggest Mo Salah fans you will find. Action Images via Reuters 44/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Huddersfield Town's German head coach David Wagner (L) shakes hands with Arsene Wenger before kick-off. AFP/Getty Images 45/51 Manchester United vs Watford REUTERS 46/51 Southampton vs Manchester City PA 47/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom John Motson is welcomed to Selhurst Park on what is his final match as a BBC commentator. REUTERS 48/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom John Motson is pictured on the front of the matchday programme. PA 49/51 West Ham vs Everton West Ham fans gather outside the London Stadium before kick-off. REUTERS 50/51 West Ham vs Everton A young fan sits in the West Ham dugout before kick-off. REUTERS 51/51 Manchester United vs Watford Fans gather outside Old Trafford before kick-off. PA 1/51 Liverpool vs Brighton Mohamed Salah celebrates after breaking the Premier League goals in a season record. REUTERS 2/51 Liverpool vs Brighton Liverpool's defender Dejan Lovren celebrates after scoring their second goal. AFP/Getty Images 3/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal A banner honouring outgoing Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger being pulled by a plane. PA 4/51 Swansea City vs Stoke City Swansea fans display a banner in protest against the bored as they were relegated to the Championship. Action Images via Reuters 5/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom Crystal Palace's Patrick van Aanholt walks out with children. REUTERS 6/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Arsene Wenger walks out for his last game as Arsenal manager. REUTERS 7/51 Swansea City vs Stoke City Swansea City's English midfielder Leon Britton waves as he plays his final match. AFP/Getty Images 8/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Newcastle fans unveil a banner before the Premier League match. Getty Images 9/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Arsene Wenger walks out for his last game as Arsenal manager. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 10/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Chelsea's Antonio Conte reacts during the Premier League match at St James' Park REUTERS 11/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Chelsea's Olivier Giroud reacts during the Premier League match at St James' Park. PA 12/51 Manchester United vs Watford Manchester United fans display a banner for Sir Alex Ferguson, who continues his recovery from a brain haemorrhage. AFP/Getty Images 13/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Former Tottenham and England player Paul Gascoigne performs for the fans on the pitch at half time. AFP/Getty Images 14/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Newcastle United's Ayoze Perez celebrates scoring their second goal. REUTERS 15/51 Burnley vs Bournemouth Burnley's Chris Wood celebrates with Matthew Lowton after scoring their first goal. Action Images via Reuters 16/51 Swansea City vs Stoke City Swansea boss Carlos Carvalhal looks dejected during their defeat to Stoke. Getty Images 17/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom Wilfried Zaha scores Palace's first goal at Selhurst Park. PA 18/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Erik Lamela celebrates after Tottenham score their third goal against Leicester. PA 19/51 Manchester United vs Watford Jose Mourinho and Michael Carrick share a laugh on the touchline. REUTERS 20/51 West Ham vs Everton Manuel Lanzini scores West Ham's third goal. CameraSport via Getty Images 21/51 West Ham vs Everton Marko Arnautovic celebrates after scoring West Ham's second goal. Getty Images 22/51 Swansea City vs Stoke City Stoke City's Peter Crouch celebrates with Lasse Sorensen and Xherdan Shaqiri after scoring their winning goal. Action Images via Reuters 23/51 Manchester United vs Watford Michael Carrick poses with his children on the pitch at Old Trafford. PA 24/51 Manchester United vs Watford Michael Carrick waves goodbye to the Old Trafford. PA 25/51 Southampton vs Manchester City Gabriel Jesus celebrates his winning goal that sealed City's record 100th point. Getty Images 26/51 Newcastle vs Chelsea Dwight Gayle puts Newcastle ahead. REUTERS 27/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Former Tottenham player Paul Gascoigne is cheered by the fans at half time. REUTERS 28/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom Crystal Palace fans at Selhurst Park. REUTERS 29/51 Manchester United vs Watford Marcus Rashford puts Manchester United ahead. REUTERS 30/51 Swansea vs Stoke City Stoke's Papa Ndiaye celebrates with Peter Crouch after scoring their first goal. REUTERS 31/51 Liverpool vs Brighton Liverpool celebrate Mohamed Salah's opener. REUTERS 32/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Harry Kane holds his head with Tottenham trailing against Leicester. AFP/Getty Images 33/51 Liverpool vs Brighton Dejan Lovren in action with Brighton's Beram Kayal. REUTERS 34/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey in action with Huddersfield Town's Jonathan Hogg. REUTERS 35/51 Swansea vs Stoke City Mike van der Hoorn (left) and Stoke City's Darren Fletcher battle for possession. PA 36/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Harry Kane equalises for Tottenham Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images 37/51 Tottenham vs Leicester Jamie Vardy celebrates scoring his side's first goal. PA 38/51 West Ham vs Everton West Ham United's Angelo Ogbonna in action with Everton's Idrissa Gueye, Action Images via Reuters 39/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom Crystal Palace's James McArthur in action with West Bromwich Albion's James McClean. REUTERS 40/51 Southampton vs Manchester City Southampton's Oriol Romeu (left) and Manchester City's Raheem Sterling battle for the ball. PA 41/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Arsene Wenger walks out onto the pitch before kick-off. EPA 42/51 Manchester United vs Watford Manchester United's Ashley Young in action with Watford's Will Hughes. REUTERS 43/51 Liverpool vs Brighton One of the biggest Mo Salah fans you will find. Action Images via Reuters 44/51 Huddersfield vs Arsenal Huddersfield Town's German head coach David Wagner (L) shakes hands with Arsene Wenger before kick-off. AFP/Getty Images 45/51 Manchester United vs Watford REUTERS 46/51 Southampton vs Manchester City PA 47/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom John Motson is welcomed to Selhurst Park on what is his final match as a BBC commentator. REUTERS 48/51 Crystal Palace vs West Brom John Motson is pictured on the front of the matchday programme. PA 49/51 West Ham vs Everton West Ham fans gather outside the London Stadium before kick-off. REUTERS 50/51 West Ham vs Everton A young fan sits in the West Ham dugout before kick-off. REUTERS 51/51 Manchester United vs Watford Fans gather outside Old Trafford before kick-off. PA

Conte had clearly stopped being effective or able to inspire his players on a regular basis several months ago.

But when many fans expected the club to make a change, the club chose a policy of appeasement instead.

With Conte understandably refusing to resign, Chelsea allowed things to fester. Some will argue it was a sign of the powers that be backing their man but given relations have been strained since pre-season, it felt more a case of not wanting to give the former Juventus coach money for nothing.

Two months after the Watford debacle, they were 10 points behind rivals Tottenham and Liverpool in fifth.

It’s worth noting that Chelsea changed their compensation policy after Scolari and his staff were paid a lump sum of £42m in 2009. After that, axed coaches have been given their weekly salary only until they have found employment elsewhere.

There have been suggestions that Conte is prepared to take a sabbatical from the game, if handed a P45, in order to receive the £9.5m owing on the final year of his contract.

But even if that is the case, that’s a cheap price to pay given the winners of the Champions League next year stand to make in excess of £100m. In contrast, Manchester United claimed only £40m for lifting the Europa League— the competition Chelsea have now dropped into - 12 months ago.

As usual, Conte explained after the Newcastle defeat, it was up to Chelsea to decide whether he stays. He said: “I am committed for this club. The most important thing is what the club thinks, not you or the speculation.”

Given Chelsea have been looking at other candidates like Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri, who is meeting with the Serie A side’s owner Aurelio De Laurentiis this week to determine his future, confirmation of Conte’s departure surely won’t be too long. But the damage has already been done.