Where’s the gaffer this weekend? He’s gone fishin’, is the word on the street.

Reading between the lines is always fraught with peril. And trust old Ferret here, but this afternoon's meeting with the gaffer offered more by way of smokes and mirrors than the Pleasure Beach.

But for those of you hoping for a bit more action after Sammy's arrival this week, might be in for some fun over the next few days.

Might.

“I wouldn't take the weekend off,” were Glenn's parting words.

“It's like fishing – you might get one. But then it might be a blank weekend. And if you go away, you might miss them. Maybe two or three. And you never know when the fish are going to bite, do you? That's why you can't leave that rod.”

Word has it that Paterson is on the move; stuffed with the Lafferty cash, Burnely can go back in there with a third bid. He was always going to go; as soon as a player say his mind might not be right come the start of the season if his transfer wish isn't granted, then you get shot; get rid.

You just play hard to get for a while and try to drive the price up if you can. But there are clearly some other fish in the pond.

“Possibly – I'm hopeful,” said Roeder, who switched from fishing to football in an instant – just as much as smoke gave way to a mirror.

“There's one bid in particular that keeps hitting the wall and bouncing away – and every time its bouncing away, it's not bouncing so further. So, hopefully, the next time it hits the wall it stays put. And then we've got him.”

And you can write Martin Taylor out of your summer shopping plans; that's one not wriggling on the end of Roeder's line.

“No,” said the City chief, with Tiny now all set to stay firmly put.

“With Birmingham getting relegated, he proved in their promotion year back to the Premiership that he's a major player in this division – and they want to keep him. But again – not too worried. Got other targets in that position.”

Doc is the one on borrowed time. Players have to be back in this country by the 28th latest to report back for pre-season training on the 1st. And Roeder appears in little mood to have the City centre-half back amongst his pre-season group if his mind – and his signature – are heading elswhere.

Hence Doc's D-Day will come some-time in the next eight to nine days. As and when he ever deigns to pick up his mobile phone, appeared to be the impression.