Previously on Clarkegate:
The Chairman says Clarkey won't talk until the end of the season.
Clarkey says he can't believe what the Chairman has said. 'I love it here.'
The Chairman says 'we love Clarkey' and wants him to stay, time for the Boss to have a word.
The Boss told the Echo: "I would love Peter to stay and we will soon be talking to him and his agent about a new contract. I sat down with Peter after training yesterday and, like he said in the Echo, he hasn't ruled out staying with us so hopefully we can sort something out for him to stay.
The Echo must be enjoying this episode though it might annoy them that the managemant and first team squad alike seem to get all their news from Teletext! (Wonder if I could bribe Macca to say: 'I was shocked to see what I read on TLG.')
Tilly goes on about not wanting our best players to go, which they will of course if anybody has more money than us.
So is that the end of the saga?
Tilly continues: "I know Peter was a bit disappointed by what was said but I've spoken to Ron about it and said the quotes had come from something he said earlier on in the season. We've explained that to Peter and now hopefully we can sort out for him to stay."
Oh well, that's all sorted then, everybody can tell Shrimpers when Clarkey steps out for Roy Keane's Ipswich next season: 'it wasn't my fault Guv.'
The Ipswich bit was a joke.
No real headlines to get from the other two negotiations over new contracts as the first is veteran striker Paul Furlong, who is currently scoring for fun at Barnet and the North London club would probably like to keep him if he's still alive next August.
And No. 2 is No. 2 keeper Ian Joyce, who should have done enough to stay and anyway we all like shouting "USA, USA," when Tilly decides to give him a game in the first team.