Welsh FA looks to Toshack

Welsh football, under siege for the administration and performance of the national team, could answer the crisis by switching Mike Smith to the role of chief executive, and reinstating John Toshack as manager.

Toshack, recently sacked by the Spanish club, Real Sociedad, has returned to live in Wales and is available to revive a side that, after three successive defeats in the European championship qualifying campaign, must already start preparations for the next World Cup.

Toshack was appointed a year ago to take charge while combining the responsibility with his duties abroad, but resigned after 47 days and one defeat.

His return would be smoothed by Smith's move upstairs to replace Alun Evans, who is understood to be wanting a way out after 12 years as the Welsh FA's chief official. Although the FAW president, Brian Fear, said last night that there is "no truth in this suggestion", it is known that there is support for the plan.

On Wednesday, a special meeting of councillors in Caersws discussed Evan's admission that he swore at the Merthyr Tydfil chairman, John Reddy, who is attempting to force a vote of no confidence in the Welsh administration.

"Welsh football is being run by a demigod followed by a group of lackies," Reddy said. "The FAW have introduced new standards of behaviour into public life and have shown yet again their inability to deal with matters. Double standards are now par for the course as far as Welsh football is concerned."

It was decided that Evans would not be disciplined over the swearing incident, but it emerged that during the four-hour discussion, he again talked of resigning on grounds of pressure and ill health.

The 51-year-old, who has two years remaining on his £45,000-a-year contract, has indicated that he might be prepared to leave if the terms are right, and a four-man body has been set up to discuss the contents of a possible severance package.

Councillor Trefor Lloyd Hughes broke ranks after the meeting to say of Evans: "He is not a well man. I'm convinced of that. We have to look after his health and everybody else's. As far as Alun Evans' future is concerned, there is no doubt you will hear something in the next few days."

If Evans does go, he would be retained in an advisory capacity to help with the forthcoming court case in March, when three clubs, Newport AFC, Colwyn Bay and Caernarfon, are seeking compensation for being forced to play at English grounds for the past two years after refusing to join the Konica League of Wales.

The FAW knows that there have to be changes to the national team, but has sympathy for Smith, who was forced to pick up the pieces after the fiasco of Toshack's brief stay.

At the same time, however, they will not want to put pressure on their slender resources with two compensation payments. Smith has considerable organisational and administrative abilities, and might himself welcome the change.

Evans, who was in trouble last year after making an unauthorised loan of FAW funds to an athletics organisation, may step down before the next full council meeting on Wednesday.

Two days later comes an extraordinary meeting of FAW clubs, which will vote on Reddy's motion of no confidence.

n The Brazilian World Cup star, Romario, has finally signed for Flamengo of Rio de Janeiro from Barcelona for £3m. the club said they were also hoping to sign Romario's international team-mates, Dunga and Branco.