Fredi Gonzalez spent all day Monday visiting his daughter, a college freshman, in southern Georgia. He spent part of Tuesday riveted to the television -- ``with the sound turned off'' -- as the Twins and Tigers put on a 12-inning thriller. And he spent a chunk of Wednesday on his Harley-Davidson, cruising up to Lake Allatoona.

``Just to clear my head,'' Gonzalez said of the motorcycle ride.

After three tension-filled days in which his future as Marlins manager hung in the balance, Gonzalez just wanted to get away.

And relax.

Gonzalez finally can do that after owner Jeffrey Loria ended the suspense, calling him Tuesday to let him know his job was safe.

``He was in New York and I was in Statesboro, Ga., with my daughter,'' Gonzalez said of their discussion. ``It was a good conversation. We both expressed ourselves and now it's over with.''

Gonzalez refused to disclose details of the conversation.

But he said Loria ``explained himself'' and that everything is now ``good.''

``He said it was just rumors,'' Gonzalez said of the widespread reports that not only was his job in jeopardy, but former big-league manager Bobby Valentine had been in contact with the Marlins as a possible replacement.

The reports began to surface Saturday as the team was in Philadelphia closing out its second consecutive winning season and a second-place finish in the National League East.

Although Gonzalez didn't lose his job, two of his coaches got the boot.

Pitching coach Mark Wiley and first base/infield coach Andy Fox will not be back next season. The rest of the coaching staff was offered contracts to return.

``I think everybody's going to come back and I'll be surprised if they don't,'' Gonzalez said. ``I want them back.''

Gonzalez said he will be involved in the search and hiring of replacements for Wiley and Fox, and that he would prefer to complete the process as quickly as possible. But if the Marlins decide they want to talk to coaches or instructors from any of the eight playoff teams, they will have to wait to ask for permission, perhaps delaying the process.

``We're putting together a list and some of the guys who are not in the organization you have to ask permission for,'' Gonzalez said. ``There are guys who may have done it before [in the majors] and had success in other places, and guys who haven't done it at the major league level but have coached in the high minors and have dealt with young pitchers.''

Gonzalez said he has spent a lot of time on the phone the past few days as reports swirled about his job.

But he hasn't spoken to any of the Marlins players.

``They're tired of seeing me, and vice versa,'' Gonzalez said. ``We've been together for eight months.

``The last voice they want to here is mine.''

Gonzalez said he is confident everything is fine and there will be no lingering effect from this point forward.

``I think whatever happened the last weekend, I think it's over with and I feel comfortable we can go forward without having any of that stuff come up,'' said Gonzalez, who is under contract through the 2011 season. ``I don't think that stuff is ever going to come back up again.''

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