Notts County manager Ian McParland has firmed up his interest in released Town striker Billy Clarke by offering the Irishman a contract at Meadow Lane. County are amongst a host of clubs chasing the 21-year-old, who scored 18 goals with three loan sides last season.

Championship Sheffield Wednesday have emerged as perhaps the leading contenders for Clarke's signature, a move which would see the Irish U21 international join up with former team-mate Tommy Miller at Hillsborough.

League One sides Norwich, Brentford, where Clarke spent the latter weeks of the season on loan, and Oldham, now managed by Dave Penney who was Clarke's boss during his earlier spell at Darlington, are also believed to be in the hunt for the Cork-born striker.

McParland says he is yet to speak to the player himself but has held talks with his agent: "Billy is in Ireland at the moment following a family bereavement, so we haven't actually had chance to meet up with him, but I have spoken at length with his agent.

"Maybe it's a long shot that we will get him if Championship clubs are involved, but you get nothing if you don't try. I've made a firm offer to Billy's agent and he knows that we are serious about signing him.

"Hopefully we will get the chance to sit down with Billy in the next couple of weeks and talk things over. If we can do that, I think we will be able to convince him that he ought to seriously consider joining us."

If Clarke decides to opt for County he will play alongside ex-Blue Jamie Clapham, who signed on at Meadow Lane last September.

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