SPECULATION has been rife this week that Mel Aldis is on his way to manage Diss Town.Diss manager Paul Tong offered his resignation but has agreed to stay on for tomorrow's Ridgeons League, First Division game at FC Clacton.

Elvin King

SPECULATION has been rife this week that Mel Aldis is on his way to manage Diss Town.

Diss manager Paul Tong offered his resignation but has agreed to stay on for tomorrow's Ridgeons League, First Division game at FC Clacton.

Aldis today refuted reports that he would be leaving Debenham Leisure Centre to move to Brewers Green Lane.

But he does not rule out a move away from his home village club in the not-too-distant future.

“At the minute I am enjoying it, and it means extra to be manager of the leisure centre - and a local boy - to see Debenham doing well,” said Aldis.

“But I enjoyed being boss at Stowmarket Town when it was nice to get away from the village at weekends.

“I was at Framlingham Town for six years and the same time at Stowmarket.

“This is my fifth season with Debenham, and when I take a job I like to look at it long term - at least six years.”

As well as his success winning the Metaltec SIL with Framlingham and taking Debenham from junior football, Aldis led Earl Soham Victoria to success in the Carlsberg Pub Cup at Wembley Stadium in 2000.

“I have had offers, and have turned them down. But I am not committing myself to Debenham for ever.”

Debenham are at home to Downham Town tomorrow with Aldis having a full squad to select from.

He feels that promotion may be just beyond his club's reach.

“Tiptree and Ely are already on their way to the Premier Division, and I would pick Hadleigh or Gorleston as the team to go up with them,” added Aldis.

“I am ambitious and would love to go up this year, but from the club's point of view it would probably be better to wait.

“I don't want to loiter around in the lower regions of the Premier Division and in two or three years our talented youngsters will have progressed into much better players.

“If we win all our games we will be okay, but we have been inconsistent all season, and we aren't going to change now.

“Doubling Tiptree was great, but drawing twice with Fakenham shows our inconsistency.”

Third-in-the-table Hadleigh will be seeking their first ever victory against Saffron Walden in what promises to be a close contest at Caton's Lane.

Hadleigh will be without striker Chris Cowan, who has been recalled by parent club Wivenhoe after a loan spell at Millfield.

Whitton should beat lowly Fakenham although key player Kevin Inglis has been in talks with Tiptree United. A win would keep their promotion hopes alive.

In the top flight, Ipswich Wanderers badly need a win at home to Dereham to help their fight against relegation, while Needham Market can keep their title challenge on course with a home win over King's Lynn reserves.

There should be a big crowd at Dellwood Avenue to see FA Vase finalists Lowestoft Town in action with the visitors having lost 18 leagues games already this term.

Woodbridge are at home to Norwich United.