TWTD understands that Reading have offered released Town full-back Dan Harding a permanent contract. Harding spent the second half of the season on loan with the Royals, having been with Southend on a similar basis in the opening few months of 2008/09.

Harding being offered a deal by Reading following his release by the Blues comes as no surprise with Royals director of football Nick Hammond recently hinting that an offer would be made.

The 25-year-old subsequently said he would be interested in staying on at the Madejski Stadium: "I'd love to come back to Reading but obviously that's up to the club. I would like to sit down over the summer and speak to those I need to speak to like my family.”

Southend manager Steve Tilson is also keen to sign the former U21 international, but says his League One club is not in a position to afford to pay the kind of wages paid by Championship clubs.

Harding fell out of favour at Town at the end of 2007/08 and made only one appearance for the Blues last season, at Crystal Palace, between his spells at Southend and Reading.

The former Brighton trainee was Jim Magilton's second signing after he took over as Town boss in the summer of 2006, joining from Leeds in a swap deal which saw Ian Westlake move to Elland Road with the Blues receiving an additional £450,000.

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