Town keeper Keith Branagan has been forced to retire from the game due to his shoulder injury. Branagan saw a specialist on Tuesday after a nine-month battle against the injury which led to an operation in April.

The former Irish international had got back into training recently, but he felt pain from the shoulder and was advised to call it a day.

Branagan, 36, made three starts for Town plus one as sub after joining from Bolton, initially on loan, in 2000.

He now plans to move back to Bolton and look towards a career as a goalkeeping coach.

Branagan's retirement may lead to Town manager Joe Royle looking to bring in another keeper as back-up to Andy Marshall.

In the summer former boss George Burley looked at Americans Jeff Cassar and Ian Feuer but neither impressed, while Olafur Gottskalksson's agent, David Manasseh, claimed that the Brentford keeper had turned down an offer from Town. The Icelander felt he was unlikely to get first team football at Portman Road.

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