Drury Pondering Watt Loan Extension

Defender Phil Watt's loan spell from Corby Town to Grantham Town could be extended by another month. But Steelmen boss Graham Drury will need to assess the impact Watt's absence will have on his own squad before he makes any decisions

Watt has not featured for Corby this term after he broke a metatarsal in pre-season.

Drury sent him on loan to Grantham in order to build up his match fitness ahead of a proposed return to Rockingham Triangle next month.

But while Watt played eight games when he first went to Grantham, he has done nothing since as they, like everyone else, have been frustrated by the cold weather.

And with that in mind, Grantham would like to keep Watt for longer in order to see a better return on their outlay.

Finances could also play a part for Corby as Watt being at Grantham temporarily takes him off the wage bill at Rockingham Triangle.

And with no home action for the Steelmen since mid-November, that has been welcome as finances are now tight.

But Corby are now facing a punishing schedule of games in the next two months with two a week as they bid to catch back up all the matches lost during the cold snap.

And that will put a big strain on the squad so Watt may well be needed to cover for injuries and suspensions or simply be part of a rotation policy that will allow Drury to keep his players reasonably fresh.

"Phil's loan runs out on January 7 and they've been on the phone to me asking if they can extend it because they've been paying out and he's not been playing so I feel obliged in one sense to let him stay," said Drury.

"He's had a fantastic time there, they've only lost one of the eight games he's played and he's enjoying playing regularly.

"They've looked after him well and he knows a lot of the lads there which has helped.

"And while he's playing, he's happy to stay but he is a Corby player first and foremost and I need to look at our squad and see how we are looking before I decide whether he can stay at Grantham or not.

"I don't have to make the decision until after the new year so I can give it a bit of thought and see how we are doing both on the pitch and in terms of how the budget is."