Hoddle to talk over future at Chelsea

Chelsea supporters should not hold their breath that Glenn Hoddle's future at Stamford bridge will be settled by two meetings with the Chelsea top brass next week.

Hoddle, who is being constantly touted as the man to step in when the England coach, Terry Venables, quits after the European Championship, finishes his contract next month and, according to some sources, the talks might bring forth a new pounds 1.4m four-year deal.

"Those figures haven't been discussed between the board and myself so how they get out, I don't know," said Hoddle, whose counterpart at West Ham, Harry Redknapp, yesterday signed an extension to his contract which ties him to Upton Park for the next five years.

Hoddle has always maintained that he wanted his chairman, Ken Bates, and the director Matthew Harding to resolve their affairs before he would consider signing.

And there lies the problem. As Hoddle understands it, there are still things to be sorted out among the board. "The deal still has to be done," he said. "These things take a little bit of time and we are hoping we can get closer to where we are going."

Regarding the England position, Hoddle again insisted that the Football Association has not spoken to him. "Different stories are being floated all the time," he said. "The next one will probably be Bergkamp and Gullit for the job!"

Venables, meanwhile, might extend his Euro 96 fitness deadline of 5 May for Tony Adams, whose first major test on his injured knee will come in the testimonial for his Arsenal team-mate Paul Merson three days later. "I might stretch it to the testimonial game for someone like him," Venables said. Adams' manager, Bruce Rioch, added his weight to the case for special treatment by describing his centre-half as a "colossus".

Colin Hendry, the 30-year-old Blackburn defender, is to remain at Ewood until 2001. "My family and I are very happy in Lancashire and it is a proud day for us all," he said. "I am very emotional about this for Blackburn is a club I have come to love."