TWTD understands that Southampton midfielder Simon Gillett is amongst Town boss Roy Keane’s summer targets. The 24-year-old is out of contract at St Mary’s at the end of the season and is set to leave the League One club with former loan side Doncaster Rovers and the Blues leading the chase.

Gillett has been out of Alan Pardew’s plans with the Saints this season and has made only one Carling Cup start and five sub appearances, including the FA Cup tie against Town.

In October he joined Doncaster on loan, making 10 starts and one sub appearance, with the move almost becoming permanent in January. The switch, which would have seen Brian Stock move in the opposite direction, fell through at the last minute with personal terms already agreed. We understand Doncaster still want him to return to the Keepmoat Stadium.

Gillett has been with Southampton since his days as an academy trainee, but in addition to his time with Doncaster, has had loan spells at Yeovil, Blackpool (twice), Bournemouth and Walsall.

The Southampton official site says the 5ft 7in tall midfielder isn’t hampered by his lack of height: “He may not be the tallest player on the park but makes up for it with his lower-body strength, work-rate and undoubted ability on the ball.

“His ability to get forward and defend makes him well suited to a midfield berth - as well as his set-piece skills - but his versatility has also proven an asset for the second string where he has turned in some excellent displays at full-back.”

Gillett, who usually operates in the centre of midfield, won a League One play-off final winner’s medal with Blackpool in 2007 and a Johnstone’s Paints Trophy winner’s medal earlier this season when he came on as a sub in the final.

On Friday Town boss Roy Keane said he was targeting “one or two players whose contracts are up” this summer. Gillett fits that bill and may be viewed as a direct replacement for Jack Colback, who will return to Sunderland when his loan is up at the end of the season.

Photo: Action Images

RetroBlue added 15:05 - Apr 20 Would much rather have Lambert thanks !
0

paristractor added 15:07 - Apr 20 oh dear
0

blueherts added 15:08 - Apr 20 5 foot nothing , 2 goals , not played much in 4 years ..no thx But ..Lambert yes
0

blueherts added 15:10 - Apr 20 Joe Cole - his contract is up...He would offer some back up for Luca if not fully fit
0

itfc1981 added 15:14 - Apr 20 Matron hand me my revoller, going for a walk in the woods!
0

blueherts added 15:22 - Apr 20 Err , why not go for Whittingham and Chopra
0

RetroBlue added 15:41 - Apr 20 cost !
0

bluepeter added 15:47 - Apr 20 Here is a little tip for you Krusty ; If you are being chased by a police dog, do not jump over a fence, run through a pipe or jump through a blazing hoop, because they are trained to do that!
0

naa added 15:52 - Apr 20 Hmm, not good enough for a League 1 team, and sounds like yet another battler. In fact the description sounds almost exactly like Leadbitter. Yes, Grant is a good player, but one of those is enough in the midfield and we already have two (Norris). Please let this be paper talk.
0

jas0999 added 15:54 - Apr 20 This again is simply rumour. Never heard of this chap though.
0

DanTheMan added 15:59 - Apr 20 To be honest he would be free and wouldn't command too much in terms of wages and is still young. Might not be a brilliant standard but you never know.
0

tommyblue added 16:06 - Apr 20 ross wallace
0

TractorCam added 16:11 - Apr 20 errrm, who is he? An inexperienced league 1 player is no midfielder for us thankyou very much.
0

Wallingford_Boy added 16:17 - Apr 20 BluePeter - that joke was not funny in 1980 and still isn't.
0

PimsNumber1 added 16:21 - Apr 20 Mainly a CM player, surely we have enough of those ( including Quinn if h we cant get rid) And he cant get in the Saints team ? Quality. And Keane recons league 1 strikers like barnard are not good enough for CCC so why should midfielders be. Hope this is all bull !
0

Marcus added 16:32 - Apr 20 Gillett - The best that Keane can get?
0

greenkingtone added 16:34 - Apr 20 itfc1981 I like it!
0

dave26itfc added 16:44 - Apr 20 admitidly this doesnt sound the most exciting prospect, but are you all forgetting we got shefki when he was a sheffield wednesday sub and they were in league 1, no 1 had heard of him but look how good he turned out to be. You are all judging him before you have seen him play! It is the same with david johnson he was from bury but was awesome, give the guy a chance.........

0

The_Stotts added 16:46 - Apr 20 Keane's signings are useless man.
0

Tractorog added 16:51 - Apr 20 Press speculation.
0

dirtydingusmagee added 16:52 - Apr 20 here we go .....its gonna be a loooooong summer !
0

tom_the_blue added 17:01 - Apr 20 Very similar player to Colback, I think on a free he would be a great signing.
0

WadzillaBhoy added 17:32 - Apr 20 I disagree with the stotts, Keano has made some good signings and I bet Martin will become a good player for us. Anyway that said this signing would have probably the same effect of Colin Healy.
0

blueherts added 18:02 - Apr 20 'Keane has made some good signings' .............Martin was a poor poor buy
0

itfc1981 added 18:12 - Apr 20 thanks greenkingtone. Lets hope if he signs, he becomes bigger than King Kongs first dump of the day.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls