Boss Jim Magilton has confirmed that he could make a bid for Bohemians striker Stephen Ward, as reported by TWTD earlier this week. Ward, 21, has turned down the chance to join Norwegian club Fredrikstad, a fee of £170,000 having been agreed with the Eircom League club.

Magilton says that he has been keeping an eye on the Dubliner for a while: "Ward is a player we have been monitoring for some time. He is also in the Irish U21 team alongside Alex Bruce, who speaks very highly of him.

"We are watching the situation very closely and I have scouts checking on him. If we like what we see we could make an offer."

Ward and Bruce are both included in the Irish U21 squad for the UEFA U21 Championship qualifier against Belgium in Galway on Friday, September 1st, a game which rules Bruce out of Richard Naylor's testimonial the following day.

Although primarily a striker, Ward has played much of his club football as a left winger over the last couple of years. However, the Irish U21s employ him as a frontman.

Ward is likely to be well known to former Town coach Charlie Woods who has been working alongside Sir Bobby Robson with the Republic of Ireland in recent months. Woods is also spending time with the Blues in an informal capacity assisting Steve McCall with scouting.

Town were first linked with Ward in March when former boss Joe Royle watched the Irish U21s defeat Sweden. Despite Ward scoring the only goal of the game, Royle denied that the Bohemians player was the reason for his trip.

Magilton is hopeful of having a new centre-half in his squad when the Blues line-up against QPR at Loftus Road on Friday, although his target remains a mystery. The loan signing of former Blue John McGreal from Burnley is unlikely with the Clarets keen to keep him in his squad

Trialist Sylvain Legwinski could become part of the Town boss's plans after an impressive 45 minutes in Wednesday's behind-closed-doors game with Spurs at Portman Road.

Magilton is also still not ruling out Tommy Miller making a return to Portman Road. The Town boss has made an enquiry regarding the midfielder and has not yet received an answer from Sunderland, who are expected to appoint Roy Keane as their new manager prior to the transfer window closing next Thursday.

Town are keen for Sam Parkin's move to Preston or Luton to be tied up quickly as Magilton wants to spend some of the money the former Swindon man's exit will raise. Parkin, who moved from the County Ground to Portman Road for £450,000 a year ago, is taking time to consider his options.

Preston are reportedly close to signing Liverpool frontman Neil Mellor on loan, a player who has also interested Town. Whether Mellor's recruitment has an effect on the Parkin deal is unclear.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls