Series of scandals creating pressure

THE manager hoiked up his anorak and looked wearily at the shambles unfolding on the pitch.

There was no shouting. No gesticulation. No finger-pointing. No making sure of positions. It was the vacant stare he used when he knew that he and his team were taking a beating.

Sometime beforehand he had eyed the substitutes bench and saw nothing. This was it. This was the hand he was dealt. And he knew deep down it might no longer be good enough.