After enduring a frustrating wait amid endless speculation regarding Steve McClaren and England, Middlesbrough have at last received some form of official contact from the English Football Association.
It is understood the Boro chairman, Steve Gibson, has had a discussion with the FA over the necessary procedure and compensation in order to make McClaren the successor to Sven-Goran Eriksson. The compensation figure is in the region of £1.75 million.
McClaren is expected to be announced tomorrow or Friday as England manager and confidentiality agreements are believed to have been signed by all parties. It is the clearest indication yet McClaren has the job and Middlesbrough will in one sense be relieved. Gibson and the Boro chief executive Keith Lamb are known to have been peeved at the manner of the FA's pursuit of Eriksson's successor and the knock-on effect on the Teesside club - and Bolton and Charlton.
Before the FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park 10 days ago Lamb was informed unofficially by someone within the FA hierarchy the post of Eriksson's successor was "McClaren's to lose". Another phrase used in what is believed to have been a social context was that McClaren was "in trap one".
Three days later, however, Middlesbrough were stunned to see Brian Barwick representing the FA in Lisbon chasing Luis Felipe Scolari. Boro had put plans for this summer on hold while the FA conducted their search, and the Teesside club were confused when the FA's choice seemed to have changed without any notification.
Now there has been direct contact it means Boro will have to start considering McClaren's replacement. Gibson is known to have met Martin O'Neill recently and admires the Irishman but there is also an appreciation of the work done by Paul Jewell at Wigan, and by Iain Dowie at Crystal Palace.
Sam Allardyce says his phone has stayed silent in the five days since Luiz Felipe Scolari rejected the FA's advances and the Bolton Wanderers manager admits McClaren appears to be the favourite to succeed Eriksson.
Allardyce, whose side face McClaren's Middlesbrough at the Reebok Stadium tonight, said: "I've heard nothing whatsoever so I don't expect that to be good news." Allardyce (51), remains convinced of his qualifications but fears this may be his last chance. "I just thought that this time was the perfect time for me. I'm convinced about that . . . that's why I was so up for it but we'll have to wait and see."
If Allardyce is overlooked by the FA he will inevitably be linked with the vacant post at Newcastle United again and the manager admitted he will take time to review his future at Bolton. "I don't know one way or the other until what's been decided has been decided and then I will reflect and do what I can see is the way forward."
Tonight's game will be scrutinised in order to provide further evidence of the capabilities of the two contenders but the Bolton manager insisted he is only interested in claiming points, not scoring them. "I don't think this game makes any difference whatsoever," he said. "I think Steve's emergence since January has helped in his favour because he has done such a lot in such a short period of time."
