EVERTON KIDS SHOW KENDALL THE WAY

HOW ironic that Colin Harvey is basking in glory today while Howard Kendall is sweating horribly ahead of tomorrow's doomsday clash with Coventry. They are both working on the future of Everton FC, but Harvey's long-term prospects look rosier than Kendall's.
Harvey, as head of youth coaching, oversaw Everton's FA Youth Cup triumph on Thursday night when they drew 2-2 with Blackburn Rovers at Goodison to lift the trophy 5-3 on aggregate. The win comes eight years after Harvey handed the Everton managerial reigns back to Kendall, without having had the chance to test his side in Europe due to the post-Heysel ban.
Now Kendall has his toes poking over the abyss while Harvey is in the safe position of developing a youth system which has already provided teenagers of such quality that the boss could be relying on three of them to keep his team in the Premiership on Sunday; Danny Cadamarteri, the excellent Richard Dunne and Michael Ball, who was rested from the final because his priorities lie elsewhere. Next season, they should form the heart of the first-team, although that will depend on who is manager.
Everton deserved their win, going 4-1 up on aggregate with their first attack, when Francis Jeffers headed in a free-kick. Rovers came back well, equalising through Gary Hamilton after 52 minutes, but Everton sealed their deserved win on 69 minutes when Adam Eaton cleverly lobbed 'keeper Gareth Stewart. Steven Hawe equalised six minutes from time but the majority of Everton fans in the crowd of 15,258 were able to celebrate the victory, hoping for a repeat from the rather less confident, or convincing, seniors on Sunday.
COMING SOON…
While Danny Cadamarteri, Michael Ball and Richard Dunne are already in Everton's first team squad, here's Football365's run-down on the Premiership apprentices who caught the eye in the Youth Cup Final;
EVERTON
Philip Jevons Scored in the first leg and nearly did again on Thursday after a long run. He's gangly at the moment but his runs from right midfield were intelligent and keen. Been on the bench a lot for the first-team and should be good when he fills out.
Francis Jeffers Nephew of Stockport's former Port Vale wide man John Jeffers, Francis scored at Wembley against Spain's boys a few years ago and was given a great experience at Old Trafford on Boxing Day, coming on as sub. He's still growing, but his speed makes him useful wide or up front.
Michael O'Brien A tenacious central midfielder who can pass and tackle. Still short, which should go in his favour he's getting stronger not taller. A local lad with England caps and National Schools honours to his name already.
BLACKBURN
Gareth Stewart A team-mate of O'Brien, Michael Owen and Manchester United's latest debutant, Wes Brown, in 1995's England schoolboys side, he's already made the first-team bench. Not particularly tall but agile, confident and steady.
Martin Taylor Enormous centre-back, inevitably nicknamed 'Tiny' by his team-mates. Made some encouraging forward runs in the final, one of which resulted in him getting Rovers' first-leg goal. Won't get forward as much at a higher level, but is a tough defender.
David Dunn Hard and agile in central midfield, he's out of the Tim Sherwood mould. Kept the ball moving well across the pitch and even had a chance to score with a dipping volley on Thursday.

PIRES CLAIMS ARSENAL TALKS
FRENCH striker Robert Pires claimed yesterday that his agent and the chairman of Metz are to meet Arsene Wenger next week to discuss joining Arsenal's ever-increasing French foreign legion. The 24-year-old has turned down a final offer to stay at Metz, who could become French champions for the first time in their history today, and is bound for either Marseille or Arsenal.
''We will meet Arsene Wenger next week to seek clarification on their offer,'' the 11-times capped Pires said. ''Even if it would be the fulfillment of a dream to play for Marseille, I would also like to play in England, and Arsenal are the club in England. My final decision will not be a financial one as Marseille can rival any terms that Arsenal offer.''

FIFA TO BLOCK DONS' IRISH LIFE
FIFA'S executive committee are ready to discuss banning Wimbledon's possible move to Ireland. Soccer's world governing body announced in Zurich yesterday they are set to consider the matter at their June 8 congress in Paris.
The executive committee are keen to forbid any club from moving to another country while still playing in their former country's league and cup competitions, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Wimbledon are being lured by Irish property developer Owen O'Callaghan, who is ready to build a 40,000-seater stadium just outside Dublin. Since they left tiny Plough Lane in 1991, the Dons have had to groundshare at Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park and rarely attract more than 10,000 fans.

TYNAN FEAR FOR HUCKERBY
ENGLAND B striker Darren Huckerby is doubtful for Coventry's match at relegation-threatened Everton after damaging an ankle in training. The 22-year-old, who has found the net 15 times this season, was hurt when 'keeper Tynan Scope fell on his leg on Monday and has been unable to train since.
The obvious replacement if Huckerby can't play would have been Viorel Moldovan, but he is with the Romanian World Cup squad and will not rejoin Coventry until pre-season training. Manager Gordon Strachan said: ''I would like Huckerby to be fit to play, but if he can't then Simon Haworth will be in the frame. He is a goalscorer and got four in a charity match last night.''
The irony of Sunday's situation has not escaped Coventry, who last season were in Everton's position of needing to win their last game to stay in the Premiership. But Strachan is adamant that his side would be doing Everton no favours.
''If things go right for us we can finish in eighth place and that is our aim,'' he said.

DERBY AND HAMMERS DIVIDED OVER BOSMAN
DERBY boss Jim Smith and West Ham manager Harry Redknapp have differing opinions on big money signings under the Bosman ruling.
While Smith has decided against bidding for Newcastle's out-of-contract defender Darren Peacock because of his wage demands, Redknapp is keen to bring Peacock and Leeds' Rod Wallace to Upton Park as he opts for adding experienced Premiership free transfers to his foreign stars.
''I knew, like everyone else, that Darren was available on the Bosman ruling so I spoke to his agent about his contract requirements,'' said Smith. ''He told me exactly what he wanted and, as a result, our interest has now ceased. I think we will see more of this in the early stages of Bosman when players will be out to make a killing. I don't blame the lad and I've no doubt that someone will pay it, but it won't be us.''
Redknapp says it would cost £12m in the transfer market to make West Ham championship-contenders, so he is opting for out-of-contract players available on free transfers, regardless of their exhorbitant wages.
Meanwhile, Derby's chances of beating Liverpool on Sunday have been boosted by the return from a knee injury of Italian striker Francesco Baiano, who has been named Player of the Year by the fans.
''It was overwhelming,'' Smith revealed. ''I am delighted for him because he's done the lot for us. He's scored goals, given us tremendous skill and worked hard.''

REDKNAPP SIGNS ON
JAMIE REDKNAPP will sign a new five-year contract with Liverpool next week and tell Glenn Hoddle that he is fit for England World Cup duty.
Redknapp, struggling with a knee injury since the draw at Coventry last month, will be sidelined again at Derby on Sunday, along with fellow England stars Paul Ince, Rob Jones, Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Dominic Matteo, as well as Irish full-back Jason McAteer. But he says he is only a week away from full fitness.
Redknapp said: ''My contract is all sorted out and I expect to sign it on Monday. As far as playing again is concerned, I would probably be OK if we had a game next Saturday but I will be fit for the World Cup.''
Anfield supremo Roy Evans will also sit down next week for contract talks with Steve McManaman in an attempt to end the saga over whether the winger will stay with the club when his current deal runs out at the end of next season.
Evans will not put a deadline on the talks, but wants a conclusion one way or the other before Liverpool report back for pre-season training: ''There's no good putting deadlines on things yet, let's see how the meeting goes first. Obviously we would like this all sorted out well before next season, that will be our objective.''
However, McManaman can leave on a free transfer next summer under the Bosman ruling, and Liverpool want to know his thinking as soon as possible, so they can decide whether to sell him now, instead.
Evans has denied bidding for Spurs star Sol Campbell but is interested in the England defender: "I can say we have not made a bid for the player. There will be lots of players linked with us, I'm not going to say one way or the other about any of them.'' Liverpool are known to be interested in Campbell, and Leicester pair Matt Elliott and Emile Heskey as well as Oldham's England B full-back Carl Serrant.

POLICE AND TOFFEES
MERSEYSIDE Police are preparing protection for Everton chairman Peter Johnson ahead of Sunday's crucial Premiership clash against Coventry.
Defeat would see the Toffees would see them relegated into the First Division and Johnson had a heavy police guard at Goodison at Thursday night's FA Youth Cup Final side, although police insist Sunday's match will be treated like an ordinary Premiership fixture. A small group of fans in the ground's main stand hurled abuse at the chairman at the end of the youth game.

VILLA FANS FACE PRICE HIKE
HAVE a relegation battle half the season, have the laziest front two in the country and become a laughing stock until you sack the manager then ask the fans the pay an average 18% more to watch the team next season. That's Aston Villa's way of thanking their fans for sticking by them this season.
But Villa's secretary Steve Stride said: ''This season, only three Premier League clubs charged less than us. Even with the increases we should still be in the bottom quarter of the price table.'' Does that excuse raising prices nine times the rate of inflation in an area of lowly-paid workers? Nope, didn't think so.
Meanwhile, Villa's highly-rated teenager Gareth Barry could make his first Premiership start in the final game of the season. The youth team captain is on stand-by to face Arsenal on Sunday because John Gregory's side could be without four injured regulars. Barry, 17, caught the eye last weekend with an impressive first-team debut in the 3-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday.

NEW LEAGUE CHIEF VOWS TO CONTROL COSTS
THE Football League's new chief executive Richard Scudamore has pledged to bring some "sanity" to the ever-spiralling costs of those clubs outside the Premiership.
Scudamore, 38 and formerly vice-president of the Thomson Newspaper Corporation in New York, will be responsible for the entire Football League operation. His appointment comes at a time when football attendances across the Nationwide League are the highest in recent history. However, a recent report by accountants Deloitte and Touche forecast a rocky future for clubs whose spending exceeds their revenue.
"We would all like to see 72 financially stable clubs," said Scudamore. "It's obvious that if expenditure exceeds revenue clubs will not be able to sustain it forever. It's important we bring some sanity to football in general. We have a vested interest in our clubs' health and therefore their wealth."
First Division gates are up 20% on last season, thanks to full houses at Sunderland and Middlesbrough but crowd numbers fell in the Third Division, creating further headaches for those already struggling on the pitch.
"The League is well administered but I'm here to progress," said Scudamore. "There is debate and discussion about the League's future which is why we are currently conducting a structural review of the League."

ARMSTRONG BACK OP
BORO striker Alun Armstrong has finally undergone a back operation, after delaying the surgery so he could help the club clinch automatic promotion back to the Premiership.