Town boss Paul Jewell will look to sign Wigan keeper Mike Pollitt in the summer, according to a report this morning. The 39-year-old, who was a member of Jewell's Latics squad, previously played one game while on loan with the Blues, the 3-1 home derby victory over Norwich in 2006.

Much-travelled Pollitt is out of contract in the summer and has played only three games for the Lancastrians this season, his only Premier League appearance having been as a sub. The Farnworth-born keeper has been a regular on Wigan’s bench throughout the campaign.

Town have offered new contracts to current keepers Brian Murphy and Arran Lee-Barrett but look likely to sell Hungarian international glovesman Márton Fülöp, who is out of Jewell’s starting XI at present and has only a year remaining on his deal.

Pollit started his career with Manchester United but moved on to Oldham in the summer of 1991 on a free transfer without making a senior appearance for the Red Devils.

He subsequently spent time with Bury, Lincoln, Darlington, Notts County, Oldham again but on loan, Gillingham, Brentford (loan), Sunderland, initially on loan before signing a permanent deal, Rotherham (loan), Chesterfield (loan) and Rotherham full-time before Blues boss Jewell signed him for Wigan in June 2005 for £200,000. In addition to his one-game loan spell with the Blues, the 6ft 3in tall stopper also had four games at Burnley in 2007.

Meanwhile, Town owner and chairman Marcus Evans is reported to have become close friends with Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp since becoming involved in football.

According to an “Ipswich insider”: “Marcus and Harry have become the best of pals in the last two years or so. When Marcus bought the club he had no football experience and turned to Harry for advice.

“But it has gone way beyond that since then. They have even had trips abroad in a private jet and played in Sir Bobby Robson’s annual golf tournament in Portugal.”

Evans sounded Redknapp out regarding the Town management situation when Roy Keane was sacked with Steve Cotterill and Sean O’Driscoll on the short-list along with Paul Jewell.

Their friendship is also said to be why the likes of Giovani Dos Santos, Andros Townsend and Jake Livermore have spent time on loan with the Blues in recent seasons and why Tottenham are understood to be the frontrunners for Connor Wickham’s signature if and when the 18-year-old striker makes the move into the Premier League.

Photo: Action Images

northdevonblue added 09:39 - Apr 24 JUst like the Keane era when we need to be sounding out strikers and full backs we are linked to goalies and midfielders.
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tractorblue99 added 09:44 - Apr 24 39!!! Im asuming that this isnt a long term thing. northdevonblue. he has said that he will be targeting a striker in the summer hes already looked at cox and austin so it will be fine.
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hudson81 added 09:47 - Apr 24 people need to know that Arron Lee-Barret was let go by waymouth to let him move to Coventry because his wages were to high as they were going in to admin. and ALB released his owe contracted at Hartlepool and was offered a new contract but he did not get on well with the new pools boss.!!! so all this c..p about him being released by low league clubs. he is a good keeper and deserves he's chance at ipswich... yes he had a bad game but fulop didnt do that much better against norwich ether...

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Suffolk_n_Good added 09:56 - Apr 24 Yeah, like we need a 39 year old gk!!!!!!
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bobble added 10:08 - Apr 24 why couldn't we have kept paul cooper on..and not have to mess around with all these other blokes honestly sometimes i never can understand the powers that be and their crazy decisions.
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Wickets added 10:10 - Apr 24 New goalkeeping coach ? Is James on his way?
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itfcst added 10:19 - Apr 24 40 year old Van Der Sar is hardly doing a terrible job in the Premier League
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GTRKing added 10:21 - Apr 24 New Keeper!!!! We got 3 already Fulop Is good just need to give him change we got wickam and carson but need 1 or 2 new strikers and 1 good defender
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GTRKing added 10:21 - Apr 24 New Keeper!!!! We got 3 already Fulop Is good just need to give him change we got wickam and carson but need 1 or 2 new strikers and 1 good defender
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brittaniaman added 10:31 - Apr 24 Well that is a good start for next seasons Dads Army ??????
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oldbarrackdan added 10:55 - Apr 24 Negative Negative comments as always, you lot need to cheer up a bit, its just speculation!
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fourth added 10:57 - Apr 24 Roy's not available but Gary Bailey might make a comeback?
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Mungo added 10:58 - Apr 24 We do need a new keeper. PJ doesn't seem to have confidence in MF and is likely to sell him in the summer (his wages are too high to have him sitting on the bench). ALB and BM appear to be capable back ups, however I'm not sure either is consistent enough to be a first choice. Pollitt was pretty good last time he was here and there is no reason why he couldn't do a job for us (Van De Sar and Brad Friedel are both aged 40 and still doing well in the Premier league). Wouldn't be a long term solution though. I would prefer going for Speroni from Palace... Don't worry all, I'm sure PJ is looking for strikers and full backs too! Big rebuilding job needed this summer!

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SouperJim added 10:59 - Apr 24 A very good keeper with a wealth of experience, however his age has to be a concern. It seems clear that we will sell Fulop if at all possible and we could do much worse in terms of a replacement, but I hope we can find someone with a bit more time on their side. A great shout by Wickets that he could be seen as a replacement for Hollman, who never managed a single first team appearance for us when he was playing...

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jas0999 added 11:31 - Apr 24 Hopefully this is just speculation. We have three keepers. A 39-year old will surely not be top of PJ's list.
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AndrewPC added 11:33 - Apr 24 If Pollitt does come, then clearly at least one of the existing keepers has to go. In my view, of the 3 Town currently have, Fulop is the most accomplished in terms of his across-the-board keeper's skills. ALB looks to be a good stopper; however he has no presence in the 6 yard box, and does not come for crosses. I have not seen Murphy live but from reading reports from others it seems he deserves more time to show us his abilities. So ALB is the weakest link; but I hear the sound of money, and suspect it is Fulop that will go while the club can still cash in on him. PJ has already let one Hungarian know that he is not part of his plans.

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ThatMuhrenCross added 11:43 - Apr 24 Personally, I thought Richard Wright was doing fine for us until he was dropped and released by Keane. Also thought Fulop was having a reasonable season until he was dropped by Jewell. I don't understand how Pollit could be any better. When he came into replace Supple, fair enough, but the keepers we currently have are a different kettle of fish altogether. Time for Murph to get a game, perhaps.

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northstand78 added 11:49 - Apr 24 Its only a report..not reading much into this one..May just want him more in a coaching role than playing..
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naa added 11:56 - Apr 24 the problem with all our keepers, especially Fulop and Murphy is that they are poor on crosses. In this division that's a big problem. Murphy hasn't been given much of a go, so maybe it was nerves or something and he needs to settle in, but frankly he looked weak in his area and is too short to be a top keeper. I used to rate Pollitt, but that was about 10 years ago! If we can sell Fulop on and get Pollitt I think that would be good business. It would bring some money in, free up some wages for a striker and potentially improve the goalkeeper too! Though obviously, it would only be a solution for a season or so, as Pollitt wouldn't be one for the future. I also don't think we need three pro keepers at the club. I think ALB is a perfectly good keeper as a back-up so I'm confused as to why they've offered Murphy a new contract. Don't feel we need them both personally.

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Luke8644 added 12:12 - Apr 24 wheres Andy Marshall when you need him.
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Keaneish added 12:17 - Apr 24 Why?
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StowTractorBoy added 12:24 - Apr 24 Sorry Hudson81 but Ipswich will achieve nothing with ALB in goal. He is a decent standby as long as he only plays a couple of matches any more and he is found out. Sell Fulop bring in a new No 1 with Murphy as number 2. As for Pollitt good call for him to be goalkeepering coach.
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itfc1981 added 13:03 - Apr 24 talk of goalkeepers just remind me of ALB! which I dont want in my life
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Blue92 added 13:04 - Apr 24 I can't be the only one who's now going back to the thought that Richard Wright should never have left us for Arsenal. He could still be doing a good job for us. I doubt he'd be injury prone if he hadn't spent about 8 years warming benches.
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RYITFC added 13:47 - Apr 24 Is this some kind of sick joke?
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