Will John Sizer, chief executive of Scotland's funding council, have to rethink his retirement plans? Professor Sizer had said that he wanted to retire at Christmas but, with ten weeks to go, no puffs of white smoke have yet emerged from Donaldson House in Edinburgh to announce his successor. Could there be difficulties in the further education and higher education councils agreeing on an individual with the standing and knowledge to continue Professor Sizer's dual role?