Nottingham Forest look set to appoint Joe Kinnear as their new manager following the weekend sacking of Paul Hart, after the team's 14th game without a win, against Coventry at the weekend.
The former Wimbledon manager, who nearly took 'The Crazy Gang' into Europe when they were an established Premiership side, would be a far more sensible choice for the cash-strapped club than the previously mooted Glenn Hoddle.
Kinnear has a top reputation, not only as a very good coach but as a wheeler-dealer and man-manager. With Forest's present predicament, just one place above the First Division relegation zone, and with no money, Kinnear is probably the only man, Houdini apart, who can keep Forest from the drop.
A statement from chairman Nigel Doughty read: "We're in discussions at the moment with Joe and I would hope we could move our negotiations forward in the coming 48 hours.
"During his time at Wimbledon he was a key figure in developing a lot of talented young players who have become household names in football and everyone knows how much emphasis we put on the academy at Nottingham Forest.
"He's also an inspirational and charismatic figure and his popularity with supporters at his previous club speaks volumes for the job he's done. He had tremendous success at Luton who he took to promotion in his first full season before they were gripped by financial and ownership problems."
A statement from sacked boss Hart, Meanwhile, read: "As a result of the decision taken by Nottingham Forest, it is with deep regret that I've found myself no longer the club's manager. I will take time to consider my position, with my family, and release a further statement in due course."
Back to Glenn Hoddle now and, after Sunday speculation that Hoddle was on his way to Forest, simply because (a) he is a good friend of the Forest chairman and (b) he's out of work, we then had the former England manager reportedly on his way back to Southampton, the club he walked out on, three years ago to take over at Spurs.
Southampton chairman Ruper Lowe, however, will neither confirm or deny whether Hoddle could return to St Mary's, which is a pretty good way of underlining that inevitability, although he has denied that the former Spurs boss has 'already' been chosen as Gordon Strachan's successor at the end of the season.
Lowe has gone on record as saying: "No decision has been made about a new manager. We are keeping our options open and will name a new manager when it is right for us."
After missing out on the signature of Nicky Butt during the January transfer window, Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has admitted, again, that he will go back for his former team mate in the summer, presumably after Nicky features in England's Euro 2004 bid.
Bruce said: "The situation is not dead. We will revisit it in the summer and ask the question again and see what happens."
Leeds manager Eddie Gray has admitted he is ready for a backlash from fans after ending the Elland Road career of David Batty, who he told yesterday he wouldn't be used again this season.
Gray has decided he can do without the combative midfielder but with the club's greatest ever battle ahead all associated with the club will be hoping Gray doesn't live to regret his decision.
The caretaker boss said: "I've made a decision that I will not be using David again this season, purely from a footballing point of view. I feel it is the right decision. I had a chat to David this morning and he knows how I feel. I think we can cope without him, but time will tell."
Finally, with Wembley and its development in the news this week, the Football Association has been criticised by a group of influential MPs over the plans for the new national stadium. The group has warned the FA not to neglect the ordinary supporters at the expense of corporate customers when the project, which is well under way, is completed.
The Select Committee has also said that the old stadium should not have been demolished until funding for the new arena was in place. The MPs also feel that athletics was only added to the stadium facilities in order to secure Lottery cash.
