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In recent years, there has been a perceived tendency in English managers and coaches to stay on home soil rather than ply their trade overseas. True or no, the migration of Steve McClaren to Twente and then Wolfsburg, with varying degrees of success, has been seen as the exception that proves the rule. Several factors have been put forward to explain this supposed phenomenon, not least of all the fact that English clubs pay their staff very handily – Ian Dowie, for instance, earns £300,000 a year as an assistant at Newcastle.

 If ever one has a problem but can’t puzzle out the core issue that needs to be solved there is always the option of asking a national FA for some input. Not because they’ll give you the right answer but precisely because they are so adept at missing the point that whatever course of action they recommend is sure to miss the point. The race row currently engulfing France perfectly typifies this ineptitude. As best their desire to limit the number of opportunities based on the colour of someone’s skin is staggeringly incompetent and at worst indicates serious racism at the French Football Federation (FFF). The suggestion strikes at the very heart of the republic. Had such a policy been installed (which is clearly will not be now) it would undermine the very identity of France as a nation founded on ideals of “Liberte, Egalite and Fraternite”. If the real concern is about a talent drain this harebrained solution completely misses the point.

Blackburn defender Chris Samba was close to joining Arsenal in January and admits his future at Edwood Park is still uncertain, the 27-year old said “Everybody knows that I am an ambitious player.

It was the perfect game-plan.

Too often Tony Pulis and his Stoke side are criticised for negative and ugly football.

Yesterday Lincoln City were condemned to the trap door of English football, they were expelled to the Blue Square Bet Premier League, or as we football purists like to call it, the Conference.

The German starlet Mario Goetze is a target for Arsenal this summer.

Leighton Baines has been in fine form this term which has seen the left back receive a recall to the English squad.

 May is the best month of the season as clubs strive for titles, promotions and play-off spots, while some are desperately trying to avoid relegation. And when this goes down to the last day of the campaign it just doesn’t get any better for a reporter.