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(Adds further BP comment, background.) By Selina Williams Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES LONDON (Dow Jones)-BP PLC (BP.LN) said Sunday that Chief Executive Tony Hayward has the confidence of the board and senior management, following reports in the U.K. press that he could be leaving within days. Various U.K. newspapers have reported that the board has spent the weekend finalizing plans for Hayward's departure and his potential severance package following the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and Hayward's handling of what has become one of the worst environmental disasters in the U.S. The different scenarios reported in the U.K. papers said Hayward could announce his exit ahead of BP's half-year results Tuesday, on the day itself or later when the Gulf of Mexico oil well is finally sealed in a few weeks' time. A BP spokesman said: "We can't comment on newspaper speculation." "Tony Hayward is the chief executive and has the confidence of the board and senior management," the spokesman added. The spokesman was unable to confirm reports the BP board would meet Monday. But he said it wouldn't be unusual for the company to hold such a meeting around the time of earnings results. The newspapers said the board meeting would finalize details of Hayward's potential exit. Bob Dudley, the American executive in charge of the oil spill clean-up operation, is considered to be the most likely successor to Hayward, although Iain Conn, head of refining and marketing, is thought to have some board support, the Sunday Times said. -By Selina Williams, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 207 842 9262; selina.williams@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires July 25, 2010 07:09 ET (11:09 GMT)