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AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has received the backing of his players amid reports he could leave San Siro this summer.
Kevin-Prince Boateng and Stephan El Shaarawy have come out in support of their boss ahead of their crucial final-day fixture at relegated Siena on Sunday.
Victory will secure the Rossoneri a place in next season's Champions League, although that may not be enough to save Allegri's job.
"He did great work in these three years and needs to stay. In my view, there cannot be a Milan without Allegri," Boateng told fans on the 'Google Hangout' site.
"Next year we have to do better, as there were so many new players this time. We need to work together so we can win the Scudetto."
El Shaarawy has enjoyed a breakthrough season under Allegri and hopes he stays on.
The goals have recently dried up for the young Italy striker - who was arguably Milan's most consistent performer during their poor start to the campaign - but he is determined to go out on a high and try to help strengthen Allegri's position to remain.
"Personally, scoring a goal on the last day would cap off a great season for me," he told the Milan Channel.
"It's been a crazy season, especially the first part of it. I was top scorer in the league at one point, so it's been very satisfying indeed.
"Goals haven't been going in for me recently but the coach has said he is happy with my work anyway. We are a good bunch of lads here, led by a great coach and I hope that we all stick together for next season."
Allegri was involved in a dispute with one of his players yesterday, however, when striker Robinho was sent from the training ground early following a clash with his coach.
The Brazilian later played down the incident on his Twitter page, writing: "It happens sometimes in training have a problem. We are men, but now everything is ok. Forza Milan."
The German's current deal runs out next month and negotiations have been taking place over fresh terms.
North End boss Simon Grayson told the Lancashire Evening Post: "We have spoken to Thorsten and there are one or two things which need tweaking.
"But we are not a million miles away and hopefully there will be something to report quite soon."
Stuckmann, 32, joined Preston as a free agent on a short-term contract in November 2011 before earning an extended deal.
The property tycoon made public his strong interest in the financially-stricken club two months ago, with former City vice-chairman Gary Hoffman and suspended life president Joe Elliott at the forefront of the consortium.
The trio have very carefully been watching events unfold at Coventry and have made their move ahead of Thursday's eagerly-anticipated announcement by Paul Appleton, who is the joint-administrator for Coventry City Football Club Limited, into his findings.
The Sky Blues, under hedge fund owners Sisu, in March placed the non-operating subsidiary of the club into administration - insisting it was business as usual as Coventry City Football Club (Holdings), which they claimed holds the crucial 'golden shares' which provide membership to the Football League and FA, operates as normal.
However, the Football League ruled the shares do in fact still lie with CCFC Ltd, hence the midlands club's 10-point deduction which ended any hopes of securing a play-off place in League One. The location of the magic shares remains disputed but Appleton, crucially, is expected to clear that up in Thursday's report.
Elliott told the Coventry Telegraph: "We can confirm that we have now tabled an offer for Coventry City Football Club Limited (in administration) which assumes the Football League's 'golden share' is in that company.
"Everyone knows that the stadium and the football club need to be brought closer together. Therefore, we are also pleased to confirm that an offer has been made to acquire 50 per cent of Arena Coventry Limited (who manage the Ricoh Arena) and we will shortly enter the due diligence phase."
As it currently stands, the future of Coventry's home games remains up in the air.
Chief executive Tim Fisher claimed in a statement earlier this month that the club were looking for a new ground for next season having been "locked out" of the Ricoh Arena.
City remain at loggerheads with ACL, who manage the stadium on behalf of joint owners the Alan Edward Higgs Charity and Coventry City Council, over unpaid rent stretching back over 12 months.
