Football: Survival the sole concern at Goodison

THE way forward last summer, according to the Everton chairman Peter Johnson, was the recruitment of a "world class" coach and exotic players to match, but after 12 months in which they went backwards for a "new" manager and made less progress than the Conservative Party, Evertonians will be grateful tomorrow just to acknowledge their achievement in standing still.

Should they avoid relegation and consign Bolton to the First Division instead, the blue half of Merseyside will give three lusty cheers and then attempt to cover their embarrassment. For a club who still optimistically perceive themselves as part of football's elite, a finishing position of 17th is no basis for respectability let alone celebration.

For Everton's Lancastrian rivals, however, retaining their Premiership place would denote a significant step forward, a cause for genuine rejoicing. Survival was an ambition that proved beyond Bolton two years ago, has defied the efforts this time of the two other promoted sides, Barnsley and Crystal Palace, but which is now within reach after a reviving run which has gathered 16 points in the last nine games.

Going into the last day Bolton hold a one-point advantage, but they have the tougher finale with a trip to Chelsea while Everton host Coventry. Then again, Coventry, having gone down to the wire on so many occasions, are programmed to give their utmost on the last afternoon while Chelsea's minds, if not their bodies, will already be in Stockholm where on Wednesday they hope to add the Cup-Winners' Cup to their Coca-Cola trophy.

So perhaps the omens are pulling in favour of Colin Todd's team whose escape plans gained fresh momentum last Saturday when victory over Crystal Palace lifted them out of the bottom three for the first time since December and put Everton in their place. The Merseysiders' pitiful capitulation at Highbury the following day merely raised the confidence quotient at the Reebok Stadium higher still.

A Bolton win will sever Everton's ties with the top flight after 44 years no matter the result against Coventry. If Colin Todd's team go down at Stamford Bridge they will return to the First Division on goal difference assuming that Howard Kendall, in his third spell at Goodison, can inspire at least a draw from his side.

The Premier League have made contact with Chelsea this week to remind them of their responsibilities to the rest of the Premiership and the requirement to field a full-strength team. However, Todd believes that whoever is wearing home colours will provide formidable opposition.

"Chelsea have a large squad and the vast majority of them have all figured in the Premiership at some point this season," said the Bolton manager. "Whatever side they put out we know that it's still going to be a difficult job."

Merseyside Police have contingency plans in place should it all end in tears at Goodison and the chairman, Johnson, come in for more abuse. Protests from supporters seem inevitable if Everton do go down. Seven police officers will be situated in the directors' box and will be under orders to accompany Johnson out of the ground before the end of the game if necessary.

The issue of weakened teams is also troubling Harry Redknapp, whose West Ham might lost out on a European place to Blackburn and Aston Villa with their rivals facing the FA Cup finalists Newcastle and Arsenal respectively.

"I know both Arsenal and Newcastle have the FA Cup final to look forward to but I would hope they do the decent thing", Redknapp said. "In 1992 when we held Manchester United 1-1 on the final day and Blackburn clinched the title I could have played a few kids but I felt it was my responsibility to put out my best side."