Taylor is `rested' by Southend

Peter Taylor paid the price yesterday for Southend United's rough ride in the First Division this season when he was relieved of his duties as manager of the Roots Hall club.

The former Crystal Palace, Tottenham and England winger, who began his playing career at the Essex oufit, has been told to take a month's holiday by the Southend chairman, Vic Jobson. He is expected to be offered a coaching job on his return. The club do not intend to make an immediate announcement about his replacement.

"After a long meeting with the chairman, it was agreed that perhaps the place needed a change," Taylor said. "I would like to have seen the job through because I had never been a quitter in my life. But I understand the problems that the chairman faces. I have been told to go away for a month and recharge the batteries."

Taylor, whose only previous managerial experience had been in non-League football, took over from Barry Fry at Southend 14 months ago but, with only one win in their last 12 matches, the Roots Hall side are struggling to avoid relegation. Billy Bonds and John Beck are likely to be on the list of possible replacements.

The Uefa European Championship stadium inspection committee moved on to Sheffield yesterday and gave Hillsborough their seal of approval for next year's finals. Ernie Walker, the committee chairman, said: "Hillsborough is a wonderful and traditional stadium where there has been tremendous development work." His team studied plans for a £4m South Stand building programme.