The club have announced that, at long last, they are in negotiations to acquire their own training facilities.

For a long time, the club have led a hand to mouth existence, using the Delves Green playing fields, owned by one of the local schools.

They are now, however, in negotiations with Essington parish council to buy the Broad Lane Pavillion site, for the club’s own use.

Roy Whalley has said that they are hoping to have the new site ready for pre-season training in 2007, should the negotiations be successful.

With this announcement, one can only assume that the deal is virtually “in the bag” and one big factor in improving the facilities, profile and professionalism of the club will be in place.

Back up ‘keeper Rene Gilmartin was injured in the warm up to last night’s reserve fixture against Nottingham Forest.

Gilmartin was unable to continue and it now seems likely that youth team keeper McKeown will the back up for number two Bertrand Bossu when he makes his home debut on Saturday, if he has to replace the suspended Clayton Ince.

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation have, however, according to the Express and Star, asked for Ince’s ban to be overturned. Presumably, with some 13 of their players threatening to retire from International football following a World Cup pay dispute, they cannot afford to alienate any more of their experienced players.

The reserves went on to beat the league leaders 2 – 1, with both goals coming from James Constable.

Even more pleasing, however, was the news that Alex Nicholls completed 80 or so minutes in his come back from a broken leg, and Darren Wrack, missing for 12 months now, played for the entire 90.