51�Թ�

The former Bolton Wanderers boss has overseen a steady, stealth-like evolution of his squad each season – with the starting XI against Charlton only containing three who featured in League Two – all the while maintaining a team spirit that Ker says "has permeated through everything we've done in four years".

And all the while they sang, their faces turned to St Peter's Basilica to their left, their white veils glistening under their large sun hats.

All the while, the price kept creeping up and up.

All the while, I kept wondering how far I needed to sacrifice myself, my pride and my dignity to prove loyalty to the same vows that, for him, were nothing more than script practice.

All the while, international hatred of America is growing.