The Bristol local evening newspaper is carrying a story that Bristol Rovers are considering trying to take Ian Roper on loan.

Presumably, the Saddlers have circulated Ian’s name to clubs as being available for loan for this story to have leaked out. The big, popular defender looks like becoming a casualty of the savings needed to bring player-coach Steve Staunton into the club.

It’s a bit early, but, on the assumption that many Saddlers will be making a weekend of it at the seaside, here’s Geordie’s guide to retirement land.

Well its Bank Holiday Monday and it’s a seaside trip, so I guess there will be a fair few staying over and a few heading down for a day trip, so I’ll kick off by mentioning that the ground is a fair shank inland, and also more in Boscombe than Bournemouth!
If you intend taking in the salt air to stiffen the appetite/thirst, before heading to the match then the pick of the sea-front bars at the Bournemouth end is probably Hot Rocks American diner. Typically expensive and tacky BUT has a nice outdoor terrace with a sea view, and suitably adjacent to the excellent although usually packed Harry Ramsden’s on the sea front. From here you can easily walk up past the amusements to the main drinking area in Bournemouth town itself which is centred around Christchurch Road (all usual pub chains available) the pick of which is The Brasshouse.

Then get a taxi to one of the pubs near the ground (see below) If you walk the other way along the seafront to Boscombe don’t be tempted into The Neptune on the sea front – life’s just too short, head instead up the hill into Boscombe town-centre and The Portland on Ashley Road. By then you will only be 6.5 minutes from the ground, and if you’ve walked it the whole way you’ll certainly deserve a pint.

Either walking Further up Ashley Road towards the ground or heading East from Bournemouth there’s the Queens Park pub on the corner of Holdenhurst Road which is both away fan and family friendly, and is served by one of the local breweries, which I always finds enhances the day out. With two large rooms its probably the most comfortable near the ground pub for spending an hour to chew over the pre-match fat and swap Forest jokes.

The Cherry Tree right by the ground has had its up and downs in my experience, I found it a bit tetchy in the couple of visits following the LDV Vans semi-defeat, and apparently there was a tightening of door-policy last season following some Chava activity during the visit of Port Vale (tut..wouldn’t you just know it). However, both MMF and UCOW had a good time here last season according to the message board, but bear in mind last season was a Tuesday night and this is a Bank-Holiday Monday. Should be ok, but the Queens Park is near enough should there be any problems getting in.

Just a quick recommendation for anyone staying over who likes their real-ale, try the splendidly named Goat and Tricycle on West Hill. Probably a bit too far from the ground for Monday match-goers, but excellent for unwinding if you travel Sunday night.

*Usual disclaimer re closures - over to the various Bournemouth Saddlers for help.

There are an increasing number of rumours on the message board that Walsall’s England under 19 star Matt Fryatt will be on his way to the Premiership soon, in the shape of a move to Wigan Athletic.

Wigan have been looking for a replacement for Nathan Ellington, recently sold to Albion, and have had a bid for Dean Ashton turned down. It hjas been reported now that, in an attempt to bolster the size of his squad for the rigours of the campaign to come, that Paul Jewell has turned his attentions to the third tier of English football, having made a bid of over a quarter of a million for 36 year old Dean Windass. It is also rumoured that he is interested in Fryatt and has had a bid accepted of over £1 million.

Of course, this could just as easily be one of the baseless rumours that have been flooding the Walsall boards for some time, but this one does seem to have more going for it than the Villa, West Ham, Everton and Sunderland rumours. Indeed, Manager Paul Merson has been hinting that two Premiership sides have made enquiries since Nottingham Forest opened the bidding war last week.

Nottingham Forest have signed Tranmere’s French born striker Eugene Dadi. The 32 year old, who has also played for Toulouse, Aberdeen and Livingston, would have been out of contract at the end of the season and that is the reason Tranmere were willing to listen to offers.

The signing is a free transfer, so, presumably, someone will have paid off his contract and it remians to be seen whether this signing will mean Gary Megson ending his interest in Fryatt.