UPDATE 4-Soccer-Grant and Clarke take control at Chelsea

(updates with Grant and Clarke appointment, changes byline)

By Mike Collett and Martyn Herman

LONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Avram Grant and Steve Clarke will take charge of Chelsea's first team from Thursday following Jose Mourinho's departure, the club said in a statement.

The announcement on Chelsea's Web site (www.chelseafc.com) did not say if the jobs were permanent.

The pair could hardly face a tougher task in their first match which sees them travelling to Old Trafford for the Premier League clash with champions Manchester United on Sunday.

"The club is delighted that in Avram we have an experienced man who can come in immediately at this difficult time to help deliver our objectives," the statement said.

"In Steve we have a Chelsea man and he will be a crucial part of the management team going forward," it added.

Former Israel coach Grant, 52, is Chelsea's Director of Football while Clarke, 44, is an ex-Chelsea and Scotland fullback who has been working as assistant coach under Mourinho.

Clarke played 421 matches for the west London club between 1986 and 1998, the fifth-highest total in their history.