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Diary - Friday 24 January 2003

24 January 2003

Eyebrow-raising if not exactly defence-worrying news from BBC Humber Sport, which reckons Town's big lump of raw firepower Steve Livingstone "says" he's about to be offered an extension to his soon-to-expire contract. What the story glaringly lacks is a quote from Livvo in which he "says" it, but hey. Any new deal for the increasingly statuesque frontman, incidentally, would entitle him to a testimonial, as the player's career-defining move to Blundell Park was way back in 1993.

Town's loan move for Birmingham midfielder Curtis Woodhouse - who is now set to join Rotherham instead - foundered on the rocks of personal reasons, says Mr Groves. We don't have a quote from him in which he says it, because it's in an audio interview on the official site, and the Diary's sound card has been disconnected by a West Brom supporter who works for Carlton TV; so I'm just rewording it from an email sent by a helpful Diary reader. Anyway. Town have agreed a loan for another midfielder with his club and if the player's up for it then he'll get a game tomorrow, but at the time of writing (12:37pm) nobody outside the club seems to know who it is. Coo.

If the new loan doesn't go through, then the prophesy of our mates at the BBC may come to pass - namely that young midfielder Chris Bolder will get his first start for the Mariners in tomorrow's big game with Bradford, as Terry Cooke is still a bit of a doubt after all with that knackered head. The Diary reckons Iain Ward might be worth a go in midfield, though, after his exploits against Derby on Boxing Day. Tony Gallimore is also dubious, but you knew that already.

The word from Valley Parade is that the comeback from injury of Danny Cadamarteri - the former Everton team-mate of Town's number 9 - could be delayed. The fitness of keeper Gary Walsh is also touch-and-go, which could mean a return to BP for old Aidan Davison.

The Diary is delighted to receive an email in response to our abusing the column yesterday in the furtherance of pacifist propaganda. Apparently, says our correspondent, the cost of staging the forthcoming away fixture with Iraq is estimated to be around £35 billion. Which sounds like a bob or two, but is probably small change compared with the cost of building the new Wembley.

And finally, the Diary is giving a trial to former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne.