Did it really end like this? With a second yellow card at the Stadium of Light: did 703 appearances, 66 goals, and two decades of unprecedented success wither and die? If only someone at Chelsea would tell the world what is going to happen to the greatest servant in the history of the club.

Sources close to the Chelsea hierarchy talk of a concern about the 'cult of personality' Terry has established in his 18 years at Chelsea. It seems incredibly naïve that someone might run a football club, and find it of concern that its most enduring and decorated homegrown player would be seen as a demigod by fans. But the airbrushing of multiple legends from the club's past and present seems to back this up.

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Alongside Terry, Frank Lampard, Petr Cech, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba are the names that history is likely to judge as the 'legends' of Chelsea's golden period. Each one was ousted from the club in the quiet summer months, with no fanfare, no send-off, and no opportunity for fans to say goodbye. In each case it was merely a press release from the ivory tower, thanking them for their efforts, and wishing them well in the future.

Not one got a testimonial – though it could be argued that, by nature of his close relationship with Roman Abramovich, Cech's Arsenal transfer was a testimonial of sorts.

Many Chelsea legends have left via the back door in recent years Image credit: Reuters

These greats, unlike managers such as Roberto Di Matteo or Jose Mourinho, were not completely frozen out and airbrushed from existence – for the club needs its history of achievement to sell the brand. But they were pointedly taken down a peg or two by their departure – for, as we know, in a plutocracy power cannot be allowed to escape the clutches of those with all the cash.

The silence over Terry is causing inestimable frustration to fans, who receive no direct communication from the club on the matter, and have never had a word out of the man who is the ultimate arbiter of all that goes on within it.

“Why don't you ask what is going to happen?” is a common demand of journalists covering Chelsea. But the reality is that official statements on the subject are non-existent, and those put up to do the talking have no real say in the matter.

Trying to move on from the impossible-to-answer question of his actual future, this reporter put it to Guus Hiddink after defeat at Sunderland that both Terry and the fans needed to know what was going on prior to next Saturday's final game. Even on that point, he seemed to heed orders to give a fence-sitting response – something which cannot be blamed upon the temporary boss, but shows the top-to-bottom resolve on avoiding these awkward questions.

When Terry went public with the situation at Milton Keynes back in January, he broke the golden rule: airing such dirty linen in public. That did not go down at all well on the yacht, and if the writing was not on the wall already by that stage, it appears to have been sprayed firmly onto the bricks since.

John Terry walks off the pitch against Sunderland Image credit: Eurosport

So is the hope of fans that there will be some Damascene conversion in the case of Terry entirely misguided?

The problem is that the precedent established by Frank Lampard, whose record-breaking goals at Aston Villa three years ago this week earned him what seemed like an unlikely additional year, establishes the tiny possibility that cold Russian hearts might melt. And that is the problem with all this phoney posturing. The reaction of fans is feared. They who run the club lived through Rafael Benitez being sent to the lions in his first game against Manchester City, and had their awkward expressions plastered over the back pages as a result.

That is what it comes down to: that a man who owns industries, runs vast territories and has created what the world now knows to be Chelsea, plus those with whom he is surrounded, perhaps fears something as trifling as a booing crowd.

It seems there may be an element of cowardice, though given the unrest at Stamford Bridge you can understand why postponing a vastly unpopular decision until after the end of the season would be a calculated move which makes perfect sense for Abramovich.

But Chelsea Football Club, its hierarchy and its owner should fess up about what is really going to happen to their Captain, Leader, Legend – and take what's coming to them as a result.

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