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With the January transfer window fast approaching the football rumour-mill is in full flow, but this year it seems a member of the catering premier league is included as well.

Word reaches Kitchen Rat that the UK's largest contract caterer Compass Group has won a £4m annual turnover catering deal at Championship team Cardiff City FC.

Cardiff, managed by Dave Jones and beaten FA Cup finalists earlier this year, move into a new state-of-the-art stadium next August, which is when the Compass contract will likely start.

Compass already provides catering services at Chelsea and Southampton football clubs under its FMC brand, so should be well versed in meeting football fans' expectations.

Compass Group retains contract with Wellcome Trust>>

Sodexo nets £38m catering deal with Newcastle United>>

Apparently before Grant got the boot at Stamford Bridge, due to his failure to win the Champions League and achieving only a runners-up spot in the Premiership, he wrote to Tony Newby of the Best Western Monkbar hotel.

Why? You no doubt ask.

Was he aware of his fate and looking for somewhere to stay the night far away from Mayfair's Russian community in the capital? Was Newby in the frame to fill that tricky right-back position that has vexed recent Chelsea managers?

Not exactly.

My rat spies at West Ham may have finally solved the Spurs/Marriot hotel food poisoning scandal. A rodent buddy snapped Tottenham midfielder Michael Carrick - who was pulled off during last Sunday's match - signing autographs and joking with fans 15 minutes after the fateful game. Does he look a bit peaky to you? My rat chum said he looked perfectly healthy and and would not have been able to stand and chat if he was really ill.