Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Thursday 15 May 2008

15 May 2008

They're screening a Stuart Watkiss double bill today at the Cinema SNOS, and the main feature is a Mariners World interview in which the club's assistant manager takes seven minutes to say "we defended better with three centre-backs than two, and we need some new players". Of more interest to the discerning Town buff will be the supporting feature: the script from the Mariners World reel in which Watkiss's utterances are edited down to focus upon the management's current efforts to strengthen the squad. "It is slow, it is frustrating. We've got a list of players, we have spoken to players, we have spoken to agents. Players will want to give themselves as long as they possibly can, to see how many different clubs are in for them," says the likeable midlander. "We won't be just bringing players in for the sake of it. It is imperative that we get the right bodies on board," Watkiss concludes, in a section of screenplay bearing all the stylistic hallmarks of his writing partner Mr A Buckley.

"Following on from the Diary's request yesterday to search out local football teams in the hunt for fresh young undiscovered talent, I was tempted to check out a Canterbury United game," emails New Zealand-based Town fan and former Cod Almighty statistician Andy Holt. "What is holding me back, however, is the risk that, on the off-chance that I'd find the next Clive Mendonca down here, I'd be mistaken for that ranting ex-pat who sent that Jason Batty goalkeeper fella over for a trial back in 2000. That and the fact the season finished in April, that is." Ah well - at least Damian Mori finally enjoyed a spectacular career with the Mariners.