'Gazzamania' comes to Kettering ?

With the official announcement that current owner Peter Mallinger is about to sell Kettering Town Football Club to a consortium headed by businessman Imraan Ladak and Paul Gascoigne, another chapter in the long and colourful history of the Poppies looks about to unfold.

The national media is already starting to devote column inches to the impending takeover and if Gascoigne does decide to return to a playing role for the Poppies (as well as coaching) the media attention will surely go into overdrive.

Gascoigne is only 38 and according to Peterborough Utd's Barry Fry could still compete at this level. "He was a genius and will probably want to go somewhere where he can get a few games. I know he has knocked his body about but he could play for Kettering standing on his head.'' (er .. thanks Barry!)

Born in Gateshead, Gascoigne has unarguably had a distinguished footballing career, with 57 England caps, having played midfield for Newcastle Utd, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Glasgow Rangers, Middlesborough and Everton, with three games for Burnley and two as player-coach at Boston Utd being his most recent outings last season.

The combined transfer fees between those clubs total over £152m and if Gascoigne turns out for Kettering in a playing capacity he will join a distinguished list of famous Poppies, including (but certainly not limited to) Tommy Lawton, Ron Atkinson and Derek Dougan.

What the immediate future holds for the club once the takeover is comfirmed is yet to be seen, but with the statement by Imraan Ladak that the club "will become full-time" it certainly looks likely to be an exciting period for the club's long-suffering supporters.