I'M normally on the phone two or three times a week to Jim Whitley, which keeps me abreast of what's going on at the Racecourse.

But I can honestly say I knew nothing about the fact that the Wrexham players had not been paid on time last month.

Jim didn't mention it once. That tells you something about the character of the lad, but it's another indication that small Football League clubs are having to work ever harder to stay in business.

I know there are all sorts of reasons for the current problems in the lower leagues, but I'm sure everyone at the Racecourse was disappointed with last weekend's attendance of just over 3,000 against Grimsby Town.

Wrexham are pushing for the play-offs to the First Division for God's sake.

It's got to be 25 years since they were last in with a chance of playing at that level.

They should be getting gates of 5,000 or 6,000, given their fantastic achievement in getting where they are - especially as they only came up from the Third Division last year.

In the end, Denis Smith and the lads deserve better.

I've got a lot of sympathy with the players if their money is late because they have mortgages and bills to pay just like everyone else.

As for Jim, I thought he must be playing well because I noticed he he's had a couple of 9s in the Sunday match reports. Then I realised I was reading the newpaper upside down!

His wedding is only a couple of months away so if things don't improve, we could be going to Poundstretcher for the wedding suits.

I did tell him I would only be there if I was the best man.

But now it looks as though I'll have to settle for being an usher because he doesn't want me to steal the limelight on his big day.

I also told him that if he's done any decent portraits recently, I'll bung him a few quid.