It's Thursday, which means...

Just as Friday used to be Crackerjack Day, Thursday at Albion means Press Conference Day.

Sitting under the gunge tank this time was Paul Robinson and, as always, willing contestant Tony Mowbray.

Robinson was in good spirits. You can't blame him. A new contract is enough to make anyone happy. Robbo deserves the new deal. Every year we're alerted to new left-backs being watched or pursued. Yet Robbo remains in the box seat. He also said some nice things about Gary Megson too.

As did Tony Mowbray, who, for a football manager, showed remarkable flat-batting technique when quizzed about the Bolton boss' relationship with Jeremy Peace.

'Nothing to do with me,' was pretty much the answer.

Inevitably discussion turned to transfers. The Albion boss gave little away publicly although the chances of signing Oscar Trejo and Zheng Zhi are receeding fast. As I write this both look unlikely, but then...

Olsson is more of a possibility and don't be surprised to see the loan market (two domestic, unlimited overseas) being exploited. But remember, you can only play two loanees at any one time. Monday night could be a long night...

Meanwhile, word reaches me that the police in Hartlepool had taken their eye off the ball before Tuesday's Carling Cup clash.

Spotting an Albion 'supporters' coach heading into the region, the local constabulary instructed it to pull-over on to the layby to ensure that the vehicle was held back so that it would arrive at the stadium just before the kick-off. They clearly had no intention of allowing these Black Country 'hooligans' to roam the streets of Hartlepool.

Which probably wouldn't have been a major issue except for the fact that this coach was carrying Albion directors, life member and the very respected Dr Roger Rimmer, the club's media gang and, last but not least, chairman Jeremy Peace.

Apparently the rough-looking media officers confused the police.

Poor PC Plod was soon looking a little red-faced as he swiftly allowed the Albion entourage to complete the journey on to the Victoria Ground.

Bet they wish they hadn't bothered...

PS. To Anonymous (from my previous blog). Filipe said in a Birmingham Mail interview last month that it could be as early as the end of September but the likelihood is that it'll be sometime in October. You can never tell with knee injuries, but last I heard he was going well.