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A wet and largely miserable February afternoon was being considerably enlivened by Northampton Town head of youth Geoff Harrop, who was on the other end of the telephone and talking in excited if secretive terms about his latest find.

Harrop had discovered a player at the trials he recently attended and now had the striker training with his youth team as he assessed whether to offer him a two-year scholarship.

My attempts to prise from Harrop the identity of the player failed, although I suspect he might have told me if I had pressed the issue. There was almost a tone of playful glee in his voice when he asked: "You don't really want me to tell you where he is from, do you?"

The point of all this is that Harrop spotted the player at the recent Football League exit trials.

These take place at different venues over three separate days in February every year and give youth players released by their current clubs the chance to try to earn a two-year scholarship somewhere else starting at the age of 16.

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At the City Ground.

Like a sprinter that has given too much over the first 70 metres, Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies is fearful that his team will run out of steam over the final 12 weeks of the Championship season.

He is concerned they will become tired and jaded and there was evidence of that at a misty City Ground as Forest were fortunate over an Owls side rejuvenated under Alan Irvine.

In Forest's defence, they showed the character and determination to find a winner after Wednesday had deservedly equalised with 17 minutes left - but the bold and stylish football that saw Forest demolish promotion and in January was largely absent.

Davies might rate the hundreds of letters and emails he has received from supporters praising the quality and vim of Forest's football as a personal highlight of the campaign so far, but if his side are to finish the season celebrating promotion to the Premier League I suspect there will be a lot more afternoons of scrappy, sleeves-rolled-up football over the coming weeks.

It is a point that is not missed on the 45-year-old manager.

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Swindon striker Charlie Austin has to pinch himself every now and again to make sure he is not dreaming.

You might not have heard of the 20-year-old but if you take a look at his career trajectory it is easy to see why he is still coming to terms with his elevated status.

Austin started the season working as a bricklayer for his old man's company and playing part-time for .

After joining Swindon in October, he made four substitute appearances before finding the net against Carlisle on his full debut. Austin's current run of form , as the Robins have surged up to fifth in the League One table.

It is a breathtaking, sensational start to Austin's professional career, and I was curious to find out whether he always thought he was destined to play full-time.

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Peterborough United introduced a novel variation to the notion of an unexpected transfer deadline day development by .

It certainly broadsided me and I would love to know what Posh fans make of the decision to dismiss Mark Cooper after 79 days in charge at London Road.

A cursory glance around the Peterborough 606 board clearly shows that many supporters feel that sacking the 41-year-old is the right decision.

There is undoubtedly a body of opinion that believes former Kettering boss Cooper is an honest and committed man but one who had found himself out of his depth. They feel that the board made a mistake in appointing him and has acted swiftly after recognising its mistake.

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