‘A playing budget of £800 a week’

Most of the conversations published on social media between Peterborough Northern Star officials were too outrageous and personal to repeat here.

Indeed Star issued a statement on Twitter on Tuesday, which the PT saw, despite access being blocked, complaining about: ‘a series of private messages being publicly posted, some containing personal information, which will cause confusion and concern.’

The club apparently lost control of their own Twitter account for a couple of hours on Monday during which many messages were published.

But there were a couple of exchanges which are worthy of attention.

Sacked Star manager Scott Goodwin announced he had signed veteran defender Joe Braithwaite last week, but two days later the player was unveiled as a Holbeach United player.

Goodwin was accused of misleading his bosses, so produced text messages which suggested Braithwaite was happy to accept an offer of £70 per game plus a £20 clean sheet bonus.

Goodwin revealed to the PT he had been given a playing budget of £800 per week and had plenty in reserve to afford some quality players. Indeed he claimed he had a couple lined up ready to sign.

One possibility was exciting forward Tiago Nassunculo who scored a hat-trick in the 4-3 friendly defeat at the hands of Kettering last weekend.

Goodwin claimed he had been told by Scott Steward that Nassunculo had signed for Star, but a check with the player suggested this was not yet the case.

Tiago Nassunculo.