Fulham Manager Jean Tigana has made clear what would see him remain at Fulham and postpone his retirement until 2005 and now the ball is firmly in Chairman and Owner Mohamed Al Fayed's court.
The Frenchman could quit football in four months, at the expiry of his three-year contract with the Cottagers, if he cannot agree with club chairman Al Fayed's plans for the club's ground and the type of team he will fund.
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| Fulham Manager Jean Tigana starts contract talks with Chairman Mohamed Al Fayed |
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Tigana had a meeting with Chairman Al Fayed on those issues at a meeting on Saturday and announced on Sunday night that if he leaves Fulham, he will "stop football and start fishing".
The key to Tigana taking up the two-year extension clause written into his contract is what he can agree with Al Fayed's.
So the Fulham owner and Chairman, who poured more than £100million into the club before announcing a wave of cost-cutting last month, will have plenty of food for thought.
Tigana, speaking after the 1-1 FA Cup fifth-round draw with Burnley at Loftus Road, was asked if he would continue in management if he leaves Fulham.
He said: "No - if I leave, I'll stop and start fishing.
"Five years ago, I said to my wife I'd stop in two years, although I came back with Fulham.
"I saw the chairman and we had a good conversation. He wants to see me again and I'm always optimistic.
"But the priority is the club, not me. The problem is the club's targets.
"Where will we play? Will we still try and build a young team, which is the sort of team I like to manage? I want to know.
"So the problem is not me - it's what the club want. It's not finished here and I think the club can progress - but I want to know the exact targets.
"If it's not possible to fight the big teams, will we try and build for the long term?"
Tigana's position has been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent weeks and the fact contract talks did finally start on Saturday offers Fulham fans hope he will stay.
But there is no date set for a second meeting with Al Fayed and the last game covered by Tigana's contract - at Charlton on May 11 - is less than three months away.
Chairman Al Fayed, who has warned results will decide if Tigana stays, will now need to come up with the answers the Frenchman would like to hear if he is to hang onto the man he used to call "my maestro".