Town are being linked with a summer move for veteran Irish centre-half Kenny Cunningham. The 35-year-old Dubliner has been released by Sunderland.

Cunningham's first English club was Millwall where he spent five years between 1989 and 1994. He moved on to Wimbledon for £650,000 and spent eight years with the Dons before joining Birmingham on a free transfer in 2002.

Capped 70 times by the Republic of Ireland, Cunningham enjoyed a hugely successful spell at St Andrew's, winning their player of the year award in 2005 and being named the club's ‘player of the decade' by co-chairman David Sullivan.

Having been released by Birmingham after their 2006 relegation, Cunningham hit out at manager Steve Bruce, whose failings he blamed for the club's drop into the Championship.

The 6ft-tall defender joined Sunderland last summer but made only 12 appearances, the last of which came in October, and was released at the end of the season.

Town boss Jim Magilton has said he wants to strengthen the spine of his team during the close season with Richard Wright set to take over in goal and Franny Jeffers targeted up front.

The Blues' central midfield appears well covered, so central defence looks to be Magilton's other main area of focus, whether Cunningham is the man he is after or not.

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