Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Friday 10 January 2003

10 January 2003

Supersonic striker Michael Boulding has signed for Town on loan, despite earlier reports that only a permanent deal would do. Town's official site explains the anomaly by pointing out this was the only way to ensure the player's eligibility for tomorrow's visit to 'Wimbledon'. At the same time, Paul Groves has pointed out to BBC Sport that Boulding hasn't played football for 10 weeks and probably won't do much at Selhurst anyway. Oh well - it's nice to have him back. He used to play tennis, you know.

Other team news for tomorrow's fixture can be found in our full and rather spiffy match preview. Even if I say so myself.

Meanwhile, the Selhurst Park playing surface has been passed fit for the game following a pitch inspection at noon today. The Diary only hopes that this doesn't mean fit in the sense that the pitch at Bescot was 'fit' on 7 December. Or in the sense that Steve Livingstone is 'fit', ever.

Town's never-say-die chairman Peter Furneaux is talking about another effort to get a share issue going. The club has several hundred thousand pounds' worth of unissued share capital, but the last squillion attempts to release it have all foundered at the hands of a small group of shareholders unwilling to see their stake diluted. The Diary will bring you further news as it arrives, on the precondition that we can understand any of it.

Reserve keeper Steve 'The Kitten' Croudson has suffered another setback in his battle with a shoulder injury, which has kept him out of action since late last season. The ace young stopper was originally scheduled to return last autumn, but a series of delays have led to the signings of Shaun Allaway and Andy Pettinger to provide cover for Mr Coyne. The Diary wishes you all the best for your recovery, Steve - you end up playing for England on our current game of Chammy Manager, so close your eyes and think of that.