Emma Hayes came close to quitting Chelsea midway through this season due to her belief that senior figures at the club were briefing against her.
Mail Sport has learned that it took crisis talks last November to persuade Chelsea's iconic manager to stay and complete the campaign after it was announced that she would be leaving Stamford Bridge this summer.
Hayes can finish with a fairytale ending by leading Chelsea to their fifth successive Women's Super League title if her side match Manchester City's result in the final round of fixtures tomorrow, but for a period last autumn there were serious concerns at the club that she would not finish the season.