Town boss Mick McCarthy is keen on signing released Hull City defender Paul McShane, according a number of this morning’s tabloids.

McShane, 29, left the Tigers following last week's relegation from the Premier League and McCarthy is claimed to view him as someone who could come in at right-back to allow skipper Luke Chambers to move to the centre of the defence.

Capped 31 times by Ireland, McShane joined Manchester United as a youngster and was part of the side which won the FA Youth Cup in 2002/03 but left Old Trafford without making a senior appearance.

Having spent time on loan at Walsall and Brighton, the Kilpedder-born full-back or centre-half moved on to West Brom in 2006 and then Roy Keane’s Sunderland a year later for an initial £1.5 million fee.

The 5ft 11in tall defender joined Hull on loan in the summer of 2008 and made the move permanent a year later, subsequently spending time on loan at Barnsley and Crystal Palace. McShane made 119 starts and 17 sub appearances for the Tigers, scoring five goals.

Meanwhile, Bolton’s Darren Pratley continues to be linked with the Blues, reportedly as an alternative to former Leeds midfielder Rodolph Austin, Town having been put off by the Jamaican’s wage expectations. The 29-year-old was linked with Town in February.

Elsewhere, ex-Town skipper and coach Tony Mowbray is set to add his one-time Blues team-mates Mark Venus and Jamie Clapham to his Coventry staff.

Venus, who take on a role as technical director overseeing player recruitment, previously worked with Mowbray at West Brom, Hibernian, Celtic and Middlesbrough as his assistant, while Clapham was on the Boro staff, coaching the U21s.

Photo: Action Images

iaintaylorx added 09:34 - May 31 if this is true, would be a fantastic signing! some of my family are from hull, and this season we watched them quite a few times, and i always thought he was solid and had a good game! plays part if a back 3, so would rather him in the heart if defence. would be a solid signing!!
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RIPbobby added 09:54 - May 31 Wasn't he Ted Bovis from Hi-de-hi?
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britrim added 10:01 - May 31 Nathan Byrne Swindon pace, attacking threat, gets past people
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Dissboyitfc added 10:08 - May 31 Looks like a ginger Ted Danson. would love to see us sign a proven quality right back. COYB
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KiwiTractor added 10:10 - May 31 Yes please
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MitchtheITFCman added 10:11 - May 31 Why do we want another centre back play at right back?
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JimmyJazz added 10:12 - May 31 Surprised Hull let him go, having watched their last game against Man Utd he was MoM. But wouldn't he another centre back filling in at full back? Not one to be bombing forward on the right.
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Len_Brennan added 10:18 - May 31 I thought he was a centre half who sometimes plays right back, so I'm not sure he would be an improvement on Chambers at right back. He had a good season in the Premiership, so it's surprising that Hull are letting him go, unless it is wage related. If so, I can't see us enticing him to Portman Road I see Mitch has just made the RB v CH point for me. This may just be an Irish player is available, so lets link him to Mick McCarthy news story.

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Bergholtblue added 10:20 - May 31 It would be nice if it happens but I cannot recall one player that the 'tabloids' have said we are interested in that MM has eventually signed. So I regard this with a pinch of salt and await a press release from Town to see who we actually get to pen to paper.
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raycrawfordswig added 10:33 - May 31 Would be good to get a few players lined up early ,as we only have a squad of 17 players.
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Radlett_blue added 10:35 - May 31 I'd rather get Liam Rosenior.
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Lightningboy added 10:46 - May 31 Erm..can someone please inform Mick that Jonny Parr is a ready made right back.
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hoppy added 10:56 - May 31 Would he need to be told that through the tabloids then lightningboy?
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karls_dad added 10:59 - May 31 Are we trying for a complete Irish squad? we do seeem to collect them?
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manualthetisfanclub added 11:01 - May 31 Big Micks recruitment criteria- Irish 👍.experienced 👍.multi positional 👍.cheap 👍. All ok with me! Seriously,decent player if your looking for a centre half,but we ain't, need decent RB,but Johnny parr never let us down in my opinion last season. My preference would be we need creativity,goals and pace in the team, but in Big Mick we trust because let's be honest he has performed miracles to get them close to promotion.

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superblue70 added 11:31 - May 31 Not sure this will happen but would gladly take him ,not convinced that smith is good enough so a Berra ,mcshane partnership would be very strong in the heart of defence ,put chambers in there also with parr and mings as attacking fullbacks would excite me!!!
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tractorboy12341234 added 11:37 - May 31 this guy is better than smith and chambers. if we had berra and mcshane at centre-back bialkowski would have nothing to do!
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StowTractorBoy added 11:38 - May 31 No thank you - up until recently the bloke was a headless chicken and does not tackle which is probably why Bruce fell out with him and didn't play him. He runs beside players and although wholehearted does not put in the challenge. He did improve in Hulls last few matches but no better than we have and we need a proper right back not another converted centre back. Hope this link is not true.

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brazil1982 added 11:46 - May 31 Wages will be too much.
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sereneblue added 11:49 - May 31 Not a good choice for right back. If we need to progress and have a chance of getting in the premiership you need attacking right backs. Keep looking Mick!
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yorksblue added 11:57 - May 31 Def not the Swindon winger. He can't stay on his feet.
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Michael11 added 12:40 - May 31 I knew we'd get linked with McShane as soon as he got released last week. He is a proper Mick McCarthy signing! I'd like to sign him though. He puts his head where it hurts and gives 100% to the cause so he'd fit in with what we're doing here. Is he naturally a CB but can play RB or the other way around?
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TheSelkirk added 12:59 - May 31 Radical idea I know, but can't we just sign and play a right back at right back?
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mow_the_lawn added 12:59 - May 31 If this is a true (which I doubt), I think this may well signal an offer for Berra, getting McShane in as cover for him either alongside Smith or Chmabers with either Parr or a new full back.
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superblue70 added 13:07 - May 31 Why do people presume he would come in as a right back surely he would play where most needed would strengthen the whole defensive unit I believe.
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