It seems likely that Birmingham City will issue a press release this morning confirming that Town's Worthington Cup semi-final second leg will be moved to Tuesday January 23rd. The row between Birmingham City and the police has rumbled on for a few weeks now, but today should see its culmination with all sides meeting to resolve the matter.

The police are worried that with Aston Villa playing Leeds at Villa Park the same night there was the potential for major disorder. However, Birmingham had dug their heels in and claimed that the police originally said they were happy for the game to go ahead and they didn't see why they should move. Aston Villa also said they weren't moving their game and the police confirmed they weren't going to ask them to try.

Rather surprisingly, given that the story has been around for a few weeks, Town chairman David Sheepshanks said yesterday: "I only learned of the problem today. It was news to all of us at Portman Road. We checked only last week with Birmingham City that the was definitely going ahead on the Wednesday night. On that basis we began to sell tickets."

The Town chairman added that they would be very unhappy at having to move the game at such short notice, although Town would reluctantly move to the Tuesday if this was deemed necessary. It will be Town fans who would lose out most as some have certainly booked holiday from work based on the game being the Wednesday night.

Birmingham City won't be happy if the game is moved to the Tuesday as they are playing Blackburn in a Sky game on the preceding Sunday. They might push for the game to be moved to the Thursday night.

Robert Earnshaw, the young Cardiff striker mentioned as a possible Town target last week, was watched by George Burley playing for his club at Southend on Saturday.

Town have long been linked with the player although George Burley claimed ignorance of him when asked about him earlier in the season. Of his presence at Roots Hall on Saturday a typically taciturn George Burley said: "We were at Roots Hall just to watch a game. We were training on Saturday morning and it was just a case of going to a game and that was one of the two that we were able to get to."

Sam Hammam is desperate to hold on to teen-sensation Earnshaw and was reported to have turned down a multi-million pound bid from Celtic earlier in the season. If Town are after Earnshaw they might not get him unless they are willing to pay a large fee for a player who at this stage must be marked down as potential rather than a someone who is going to go straight into the first team.

It seem some Town fans are jumping the gun when it comes to booking buses for the Worthington Cup final. Reports this morning say that Ipswich Buses have received several bookings for the February 25th final before Town's place there is even confirmed.

This could of course just be a publicity stunt by the bus company, but Malcolm Robson, Ipswich Buses' Managing Director said: "We had interest even before the first leg. So far enough people have paid the £10 deposit to send at least one bus."

Another man breaking the football fans' never counting chickens code is official supporters' club chairman Philip Houseley. He has already got six rooms booked at the Marriott Hotel, Cardiff and thinks Town will progress easily again the Brummies: "I am not particularly worried as they have to score twice and we have a very good away record."

TWTD hasn't even made any tentative arrangements to stay on a mate's floor.

As reported yesterday it seems that little will happen on the Hassan Kachloul front until after his meeting tomorrow with his club. Southampton and the player are set to talk about a new contract. If he turns this down then that is when anything will happen with Town.

The other clubs chasing Kachloul's signature are thought to be Tottenham and Coventry.

George Burley has also confirmed that there has been no return for Club Brugges' player Gert Verheyen. Town had protracted discussions with Club Brugges in October but the Belgians refused the let their man go.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls