Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Friday 17 July 2009

17 July 2009

Mike Newell is like your Guest Diarist's missus (she hates me calling her that but luckily resolutely refuses to read a word I write). He is like my beloved in that he seemingly can't resist a bargain. Your average Town fan would say we have as big a crop of promising young striker types as we probably need. But it would seem the letting-go of speedy but lightweight Andy Taylor has left a hole in the squad that just had to be filled. So, just as my wife needs a shipping container to store all her charity shop, car boot and eBay bargains, so Town needed that eighth striker when he came a-knocking.

So we have signed Chris Jones - or are about to. A lad who tore a few Welsh trees up in his mid-teens, and then turned down both Blackburn and Man City to sign for his beloved Swansea. A lad who might be prone to homesickness: "Manchester City tried to sign me last season. If I'm honest, I was tempted and came really close to leaving - they are Premiership clubs after all. But when I really thought about it, I would have been leaving too much behind at Swansea," is what he apparently told Sky Sports.

But that was a while back and Jones turned down a new contract offer from Swansea to join Town - obviously believing that it was time he got a stab at first-team football, and that it was worth leaving his home town to do so. There is a lot of competition to play up front for Town next season and it will be fascinating to see which two end up as first pick. My gut instinct alone tells me that the chairman has a little idea that his inspired move to take on Mr Newell will pay for itself not only by improved league performance and consequent improved revenues, but also by identifying and 'bringing on' decent youngsters. Whether we end up eliminating the club's revenue shortfall via transfer money we shall have to see, but it is obvious that when the manager asks, the chairman is not a man to turn him down at the moment. So good on them both - let's trust in Newell.

The next match in the Devon tourney happens tonight - being played on Torrington FC's ground against Yeovil. I predict it will be a bumpy, bobbly, bruisy, ankle-twisty affair and that we will lose. Clarke, Akpro and Sweeney already have the ankle thing and will be saved for the games next week. The rest will all get a half again, and manager Newell has said he wants another look at trialist winger Nathan Arnold. If any readers get to see this match, drop us a line with your thoughts. Any road, it's time I signed off so I can watch the test match. See yer.