Former Blues striker Alan Lee has rejoined the Town first team squad on a non-contract basis. Last month, TWTD revealed that manager Mick McCarthy was weighing up offering the 35-year-old a chance to extend his playing career.

The former Ireland international — who we understand was interesting Crawley and Colchester earlier in the summer following his release by Huddersfield — has continued to train with the first team and also scored in an U21 pre-season friendly against the U's and has now been formally added to the squad.

“Alan Lee is one of our youth coaches and I’ve signed him on a non-contract basis so he is available to play,” McCarthy said.

“He’s not in the squad for the weekend, but he’s available to play. I could play him because he trains with us and he’s still physically fit.

"He’s great around the place and he’s great with the kids, so it’s a good deal for us and for him.”

The Blues boss says Lee offers something that his other four strikers don’t: “They’re all different, he’s not David McGoldrick or Big Frank or Paul Taylor or Murph, he’s a different character altogether.

“I’ve done it because I think he’s somebody I could use during the season. And he’s a fabulous character and a lovely man.”

The 6ft 2in tall frontman started his career with Aston Villa and spent time on loan with Torquay and Port Vale while with the Villans.

Galway-born Lee subsequently moved on to Burnley, Rotherham and Cardiff before joining the Blues for a fee £100,000 in January 2006.

The striker, who is based at Dedham, went on to make 96 starts and 13 sub appearances for Town, scoring 34 goals, prior to moving on to Crystal Palace in August 2008.

While with the Eagles he spent a short spell on loan at Norwich City towards the end of the 2008/09 relegation season before joining the Terriers in the summer of 2010.

Photo: Action Images

trumpy added 06:18 - Aug 30 Great,perhaps we might score some goals now{Brum1 Town2}!!
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debenturedave added 06:35 - Aug 30 Alan Lee.......GOAL !!!
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BlueMachines added 06:38 - Aug 30 I like Alan Lee. But he isn't the inspired forward signing many Town fans are hoping for!
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MickMillsTash added 07:01 - Aug 30 Could John Wark also make a comeback?
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 07:09 - Aug 30 Or both David Johnsons!
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megamoth added 07:12 - Aug 30 Another lump upfront. And still no mention of jack Marriott. Aaarrrhgghhh!
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Stato added 07:33 - Aug 30 totally pointless. if mick thinks we need more firepower then sign someone better than the 5 we already have.
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Dissboyitfc added 07:45 - Aug 30 no harm in this type of signing was at the club already, just might do the business on the odd occasion ....COYB
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warwickblue added 07:46 - Aug 30 £10 on him ending the season on 5 goals, four scored with his head.
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warwickblue added 07:47 - Aug 30 Dissboyitfc - is that your horse?
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Blue_Armee added 07:50 - Aug 30 I have been happy to trust Mick on his decisions so far but don't agree with this. Surely giving youth a chance if we have 2 or 3 injuries to current strikers would be more beneficial. What's the point in building up to cat 1 academy and not giving the youth a chance. Does non contract mean he would play for nothing? or just an appearance fee? Either way backward step in my opinion.

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manualthetisfanclub added 07:51 - Aug 30 The answer to our prayers!!!!! Give me strength!!! we need creativity,pace and a goal threat not an over-the-hill has been!
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Cakeman added 08:26 - Aug 30 His age is not a concern to me, after all he is much younger than Kevin Phillips. If he can retain a good fitness level he could do a good job for us. Very good in the air and could link up well with the likes of McGoldrick and Taylor. His goals/game ratio was good in the past so I can see no negatives. Worth a try anyway.
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MarkK14 added 08:36 - Aug 30 Why the negative comments?! It's not like Mick is expecting him to be the answer to our lack of goals up-front - simply that he's another option up front. It's not even a proper contract he's signed! He's just signed a piece of paper allowing him to play for us sometimes, if we're desperate. His main role is to be a youth coach anyhow. The fact he can play for us, not demanding massive wages is a bonus. Alan Lee... GOAL :D

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Keaneish added 08:42 - Aug 30 Fact is he's better in the air than murph. Could have done with him against Leeds with the number of corners we had! Be interesting to try Murphy on the left, Taylor on the right, Nouble and McGoldrick up front with Lee replacing Nouble off the bench. With all our fire power on the pitch, we'd get a good understanding of how short we are or aren't. I'd have been more excited by a deal for Ebanks-Blake though who must be nearing the end of his injury!?

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Sibelius8 added 08:49 - Aug 30 Phil: Surely you mean "Former Town striker Alan Lee" and not "Former striker Alan Lee?" There's a significant difference.......
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Jimmy86 added 08:52 - Aug 30 Shows our current financial plight that we have to add an academy coach to the first team squad. He could prob still offer something, but reason he became semi retired is because no one else came in for him when he was released by huddersfield. Evans could and poss should spend some money on a goal scorer!!!!
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Radlett_blue added 08:57 - Aug 30 Has a very impressive wine cellar at his house in Dedham, so I'm told.
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Blue_Heath added 09:12 - Aug 30 If he's here as a coach and still able to play a subs role makes sense in case of injuries, suspensions etc or as something different when needed.
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itfchorry added 09:13 - Aug 30 Makes perfect sense -He is at the club already - He will no doubt only be involved in a minor role and you just never know ! Alan Lee Goal
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PhilTWTD added 09:14 - Aug 30 Sibelius8 I thought the former Town bit was implicit, but have added in 'Blues' to avoid confusion!
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jas0999 added 09:15 - Aug 30 A win win really. However, still not sure we have the strikers to score enough goals. Poor return from them so far.
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Stato added 09:18 - Aug 30 we let him go last time because he wasn't good enough, has he suddenly improved since then without me noticing. MM took taylor off because he wasn't fit enough so god knows where he sees Lee fitting in.
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PunchNoHopers added 09:23 - Aug 30 Might be worth putting some money on him to be our leading scorer this season now!
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Popeye added 09:29 - Aug 30 Looks knackered just standing still so he's never looked the fittest even in his prime, liked a cuban cigar i believe! If i remember wasn't he one of the main culprits who organised a mid season trip without getting the clubs permission which angered Magilton and he was then sold at the end of the season?
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