Chelsea's training ground has a secret entrance. People arriving from nearby Cobham and Stock-Dabernon train stations often use this entrance because it avoids a detour.
Only those who frequently visit Chelsea's Surrey headquarters know of this entrance. The door leads to a green-lined path that leads to the first team building.
However, Willie Issa seemed unhappy last week about someone using the hidden entrance.
The New Zealand-born player, who previously played for the Samoan Rugby League, is now Chelsea's Director of Player Support and Development in Xabi Alonso's coaching staff. He seemed quite annoyed last Friday when two strangers walked through a training area that was supposed to be closed off.
Following the Southampton "spygate" scandal earlier this year, it's understandable that clubs are wary of unfamiliar visitors near their training grounds.
According to an exclusive report by the Daily Mail Sports, Southampton manager Donda Eckert had a junior analyst record their opponents' training sessions. Ultimately, Southampton were disqualified from the Championship play-offs in May and deducted four points from their season standings.
Visitors are only allowed through the controversial Cobham entrance after security personnel verify their identities and grant them permission. Therefore, the fact that these two were able to enter the Cobham training ground that afternoon indicates they had received authorization. However, Issa did not know who they were and seemed unhappy that the two might have seen players like Palmer preparing for the Premier League opener away game against Fulham.
All I can say is that from then on, security personnel would tell anyone trying to use the entrance that they had better walk 15 minutes to the main gate, just as it started raining over Cobham.
