A wall at Hartlepool United now proudly bears a new Ipswich Town shirt after new signing Tommy Miller 'donated' some to his old club. Miller signed from Hartlepool for £800,000 plus the usual extras last week and has already scored his first goal in a Blues' shirt.

Miller's dad, also Tommy and Hartlepool's chief scout, brought the shirts back to the north-east where one now adorns the wall of the Victoria Lounge.

Miller senior said: "He was photographed with the new shirt at the press conference. George Burley, the Ipswich manager, said if one or two found their way into my bag, he'd no idea how they got there."

The Victoria Lounge shirt has been signed, framed and inscribed while another will go to their supporters' club.

Asked whether his son will feel homesick do far from home Miller's dad said: "So long as there's someone to do his washing, our Tommy will be content."

Gordon Strachan has reacted to suggestions that Gary Breen may be on his way from Highfield Road. Town were named amongst a number of clubs interested in the Irish defender's signature in the papers this morning.

Strachan dismissed the reports as "fantasy" while chairman Bryan Richardson said: "We have been talking to Gary and his advisor and we are close to reaching an agreement."

Photo: Action Images

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