The impact of André Villas-Boas's appointment as Chelsea manager has been felt by the Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem after the Portuguese succeeded in having next month's friendly in the Netherlands cancelled as it did not fit in with his pre-season preparations.

Chelsea's players are due to report back for training at Cobham next Monday, and the Vitesse fixture had been arranged under the previous regime for 9 July, just five days later. Villas-Boas considered that too soon for his senior squad to be involved in what had been billed as a prestige match in Arnhem, with Chelsea informing the Dutch club, with whom they enjoy a close relationship, that they would not be able to fulfil the fixture.

That has prompted considerable disappointment in the Netherlands, with Vitesse having anticipated a crowd of around 11,000 at their GelreDome stadium. "We were only informed over the weekend that the game could not now go ahead, and it was too late for us to arrange for an alternative opponent of similar stature to step in," said the Vitesse managing director, Paul van der Kraan.

"This has been very annoying consequences, especially for our supporters. We had gone to great lengths to organise this game, and our season-ticket holders were being offered this as a bonus match. They will now be compensated, and people who have purchased their tickets as a one-off will also get their money back. But it is a big disappointment for our club and our supporters."

Chelsea, who will offer their own fans refunds and have promised to reschedule the fixture for a future date, extended their apologies to the Dutch club for the inconvenience caused, though their decision to withdraw from the game is an indication of the approach to be adopted by Villas-Boas. The 33-year-old has been employed as "manager" rather than "first-team coach", which was how his predecessor, Carlo Ancelotti, was described, and will be hands-on in his dealings with the first team and even on player recruitment.

The Portuguese is in the process of shaping his backroom staff and has interviewed candidates to be his No2 after his initial choice, Vitor Pereira, was appointed as his successor at Porto. The assistant first-team coach Paul Clement, the fitness coach Glen Driscoll and the club doctor Bryan English have been released and are on gardening leave, with Villas-Boas intent upon bringing José Mario Rocha and Daniel Sousa from Porto as his physical fitness coach and senior opposition scout respectively.

Negotiations are ongoing between the clubs to secure their release, though Porto have made it clear they will resist the former manager cherry-picking the Europa League winners' backroom and playing staffs.

There will be senior roles for the former Ipswich manager Mick McGiven, who had previously been employed as opposition scout but worked with Villas-Boas during the José Mourinho era at the club, and the assistant first-team coach Michael Emenalo. The latter is being considered for the role of technical director.

Roger Smith, formerly a scout with Arsenal and currently at Cardiff City, and Ewan Chester, who has just left Norwich, will join the club's rejigged recruitment department.