Everton seemed close to embracing grand farce yet again yesterday when their manager Howard Kendall appealed for someone within a seemingly divided boardroom to confirm his job was safe.
Although Kendall spent several hours discussing Everton's immediate future with his chairman Peter Johnson on Monday, he emerged from the meeting without having received the traditional vote of confidence.
Aware that the ambitious Leicester City manager, Martin O'Neill, is already being touted as his possible successor, Kendall urged someone - indeed anyone - in authority at Goodison Park to either confirm or deny the mounting speculation.
"I cannot kill off this speculation - it is up to someone from the club itself to do that.
"If there is any truth in all these rumours, I would like to think I would be the first to be told. I had an amicable meeting with my chairman and he gave me no indication that he wanted a managerial change," he added.
Typically, Kendall was honest enough to concede that he was not in the least bit surprised that O'Neill had been linked with his job.
"Martin is a top-class manager and if any club which has had a disappointing season is looking to replace someone then he would be a popular choice," he said.
Similarly, Johnson will not be surprised that O'Neill has been placed on Sheffield Wednesday's shortlist.
Although the Yorkshire club do not expect to name a replacement for Ron Atkinson for at least another 10 days, O'Neill enjoys a healthy level of support inside the Hillsborough boardroom.
As Kendall awaits news of his fate, he continues to build for next season. If his assistant, Adrian Heath is lured away to manage first division Sheffield United, Kendall will probably seek to instal the veteran former Liverpool striker Ian Rush on his coaching staff.
Rush was released by Newcastle United earlier this week and is anxious to begin the transformation from player to manager.
The Rangers defender Alex Cleland yesterday agreed to join Everton on a free transfer this summer and Kendall is likely to make a £3 million offer for the Bolton midfielder Alan Thompson, who is also linked with Tottenham, within the next 24 hours.
"All I am doing, all I can do, is get on with my job," said Kendall. "I am planning for pre-season and for next season."
AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi summoned coach Fabio Capello to his villa near Milan and sacked him after a disappointing season, club sources said yesterday. Vice president Adriano Galliani said later that the club was set to decide on its coach at the end of the week.
Media reports in Italy have suggested Alberto Zaccheroni, who coached Udinese to third place in the league this season, would be given Capello's job.
Meanwhile Newcastle chief executive Freddie Fletcher yesterday attempted to defuse criticism of the club's dreadful season when he said: "We must not let it happen again."
Fletcher pledged his support to the manager Kenny Dalglish but added: "There's no point in denying it has been an absolutely disastrous season. We need to work extremely hard this summer and give Kenny a lot more physical support in his efforts to pull things around."
Tottenham yesterday defended an increase of up to 12 per cent in season-ticket prices for next season. The club blamed the increase on the rising costs of players and the redevelopment of White Hart Lane. Prices at Spurs, who narrowly avoided relegation from the Premiership, are up by between eight and 12 per cent with the most expensive ticket now costing £710.
Liverpool have won the Premiership's Fair Play award for the fourth consecutive year. The award is based on the number of red and yellow cards received as well as the team's general attitude towards officials and opponents. The Anfield club will receive £30,000 to give to an FA-approved charity and Blackburn, recipients of the Fair Play award for supporters, get £20,000.
Sky yesterday signed an agreement with the Scottish Football Association to screen Scotland's home matches.
