Walker is becoming increasingly annoyed at comments from the Hornchurch club in the media about his ESCFL team. "I think they are the kind of people who are voyeurs," said the Moustachioed Chairman. " They like to watch other people.

"There are some guys who, when they are at home, have a big telescope to see what happens in other families. They speak, speak, speak about Corinthian League."

Walker was infuriated by Chiesa's decision to comment about October's controversial league meeting.

'It bothers me because these guys are speaking all the time. We never speak about them," Walker added.

"You can do it when you are top and you have a big morale.

"When you are on game number 6 and you still can't win away against Barking Colts, and when you are without Danny Trew and he can't win a game, he should be worried about them.

"He's worried about us, he's always talking about us. It's Corinthian, Corinthian, Corinthian. I might be worried if my team made an administrative mistake. I shouldn't be worried about what Chiesa did at Dockside. They are always speaking about the other families.'

League Secretary Stan Hamilton then joined the broadside, singling out LC/DC admin man Dennis Peck...

"I don't know if he wants my job, I don't know. He loves the Catholic Club."

And with good reason, according to Hamilton, who claims Barrie Fox is the jewel in his team's crown.

"I don't see how he can improve because for me he is the best speaker at league meetings in the world at the moment," Hamilton said  of the former referee. "I would not change him for another organiser because he does everything. This man top in every situation . His delivery is incredible, he can talk over a long time, he can answer difficult questions, he's professional, he can pull birds, and he can handle his liquor, how can he improve?" (07.11.05)

Samuel Knowles has ordered Dennis Peck to keep his counsel after the striker aimed a volley of abuse at the La Chiesa manager during the match against Romhill at the weekend.

The Upminsterian has reviewed the Romforder's reaction after he was asked to be substituted during the 4-0 win at Hainault Rec on Sunday. And while the outspoken 30-year-old was the man firmly in the manager's sights, Knowles has left the rest of his squad in no doubt as to what is required of them all as he attempts to bring the Hornchurch club the success they have craved for so long. Peck will feel the former Gidea Park player's wrath as he attempts to stamp out any dissent within the camp and focus fully on  next weeks tie against Barking Colts in Romford.

"I'm angry about it and the reason I'm angry about it is because we're talking about it," Knowles said. "Instead of talking about how boaty and skilful we were to get a win on Sunday, instead of talking about how good a goal Matt Gillham scored, we're talking about Peck for the wrong reasons, and that has caused us to take our eye off the ball. Headlines today in the newspaper, headlines yesterday in the newspaper ... I'm a big boy, I've been called a lot worse in the past than he called me, I'll be called a lot worse in the future. But it's a fact that that is not helpful for us preparing for football matches - people going out and getting into trouble with the police, people getting their name in the newspaper for the wrong things don't help us achieve what we want to achieve, and that is to be successful here, to try to win something here, so it's going to be addressed. It can't go on," he said. "From a football person on the outside looking at this football club before I came here, that was a very obvious problem here, that too many non-footballing stories appeared in the newspapers here. That's got to change. It doesn't happen at Maze, certainly not with the regularity it happens here; it doesn't happen at May & Bakers; it doesn't happen at teams who win things."

Peck insisted after Sunday's game he was determined to continue to give his best for the Rossoneri for the remainder of his contract and that there was no rift with Knowles, even though he has repeatedly been played out of position. But ill-judged comments in the heat of the moment have landed Peck in hot water in the recent past. (07.10.05)

He fell short of brandishing a piece of paper and promising "peace in our time" but La Chiesa manager Samuel Knowles did his best to persuade a press conference yesterday that reports of a rift between him and the club's "performance director", aka Adam Jeffers, were without foundation.

The TEJ Domestic Appliance Retailer was equally determined to quell the rumours. The pair dressed similarly - suits and open-collared shirts - and spoke from the same script, but with their Director of Football, David Knowles observing from a corner of the room, they would have been expected to have done nothing less.

Best of friends: Adam Jeffers and Samuel Knowles make a show of unity at a press conference

Jeffers claimed to have been shocked by growing rumours of a disagreement about his involvement. The arrival of the owner of Garforth Town, Simon Clifford, a man with strong contacts with Brazilian football not to mention football schools in the North, along with the recent presence of Dr Sherylle Calder, a "visual awareness specialist" are said to have gone against Knowles' way of managing. But the pair did their best to insist that Jeffers was at La Chiesa to learn off Knowles and move closer to one day becoming a football manager in his own right.

"I made it clear I wouldn't walk through the door unless the manager wanted me," Jeffers  said. "Because I have been a Chiesa player for three years and I had only 12 games a year I had a lot of time to look at world sports and how things can be achieved.One thing I've regretted is not having a press conference [previously]. There was no need; I just wanted to have a really good look."

When one questioner queried where Knowles Snr was, the Director piped up briefly, said: "I'm here," and, "I'm lending support, we are a unit," then let his management team continue.

Jeffers added: "In the past I've had fantastic press and I've had awful press but at least it's been accurate. The stuff written in the last few weeks has just been wrong. I asked Samuel if he was quite sure about me being here and in the end he got quite narky. We share an office because another one is being built, but I couldn't believe he lets me sit in. It's a unique insight; listening to him talking to agents, having conversations on the phone. This stuff is priceless. There are very few people who would have the balls to let me do this."

Knowles said: "Adam is a high-profile fellow, a clever guy and he may turn out to be a top Corinthian League manager. He may not. If I can help in any shape or form I will. If Adam was walking into the dressing room at half-time and telling me stuff, I wouldn't have that," added Knowles, who believed the stories emanated from "mischief-makers causing problems from within the club or outside, I wouldn't know".

Jeffers, a salaried employee, said his role included "ticking boxes" if performances were at a "world-class" level in certain areas. He also books training and sorts out the goalposts on a Sunday, along with the First Aid Box.

Perhaps, the "experiment" will work and the Knowles-Jeffers partnership could flourish in the upper reaches of the Corinthian League. The bookmakers remain unsure. William Hill have cut their odds on Jeffers being La Chiesa manager on the last day of the season from 20-1 to 10-1. Watch this space. . . (07.10.05)