Steve Whitton takes his Colchester United squad to Notts County tonight (Thursday) in the knowledge he will still be the U's manager next season.
Whitton - who has kept the U's in Division Two since taking over the Layer Road helm from Mick Wadsworth in August 1999 - has been told to carry on after taking the U's to an improved position on their previous two seasons.
Both the club and Whitton remained tight-lipped today about the length of his new contract, but Evening Gazette can reveal he met chairman Peter Heard in London yesterday (Wednesday) for talks about his own future and the team's plans.
U's chief executive Marie Partner said: "It's up to Steve and the chairman what they want to say about next season, but Steve will definitely be Colchester United manager."
Whitton would only say: "I will still be here next season."
In response to those fans who have been calling for his head in recent weeks he said: "I can put my head on my pillow each night knowing I have done the best job I can for the club."
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Simon Brown will play his first game for the U's in six months against Notts County at Meadow Lane tonight, kick-off 7.45pm.
The former Spurs keeper, whose last first-team match was the 5-1 FA Cup defeat at Yeovil in November, is one of four changes from the starting line-up that lost at Cambridge on Tuesday.
Central defender Ross Johnson, plus strikers Steve McGavin and Scott McGleish will all also step off the bench to start the match.
But French teenager Thomas Pinault, who enjoyed his first League start of the season at Cambridge, and Karl Duguid are unlikely to play along with Kem Izzet who has not recovered from the injury which forced him out of Tuesday's clash.
Whitton said: "I want to keep Thomas fresh for Saturday's game at Wycombe Wanderers, but tonight's game throws up a chance for those other players who have been on the bench to play a full game."
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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