EDP sports writer Chris Lakey reads between the lines.

Michael Bailey and Jonathan Redhead provide an insight into life on the Archant sportsdesk and the world of sport.

Shar gets the boot - but it’s Darel who’s got the X-Factor

Miss Frank are no more - as in, they're out of the X-Factor. Which means City players can watch Strictly Come Dancing, Autumnwatch or, heaven forbid, the news, on their way back from Stockport tonight.

A pivotal few months lie ahead for our club

This is the last weekly Fan's Eye column in the EDP, and it is being written at a time that could prove pivotal for the future of our club. Since I stepped into the shoes of Richard Balls in August 2006, it has been a pretty miserable ride for all of us.

Maybe, just maybe this is our season

Virtually a third of the way through the season, so it's a good time to look back at our results so far. Points-wise, there's no complaints. Treble our tally so far and we're on course to match the minimum level required to reach the play-offs achieved in 2001/2.

From stripes on shirts to stripes on the pitch . . .

Stripes have always played a big part in football. There was Stanley Matthews in his Stoke City days, the iconic shirts worn by the Italian giants AC and Inter Milan and the relief when those Newcastle United fans who insist on watching several games topless, despite being no stranger to the St James' Park pie kiosk, actually cover themselves with their black and white tops.

Pleasant surprise

Anthony Robinson's third dismissal of the season tainted just slightly another outstanding performance from Carl Heggs' team last weekend. Robinson was sent from the pitch for raising his arm to an opponent and I rather suspect that Heggs' patience with the striker is beginning to wear slightly thin.

What a shocker

Kozza on the battle of Berwick, Lynn's bid to storm Rye House's home fortress and a four team tournament to forget the other night.