Town manager Joe Royle says he expects the summer transfer dealing to start in June. The Blues' boss will be on holiday at his home in Majorca during that period, but says he will fly back at a moment's notice if required.

Royle, who starts his holiday on Friday, has received no bids up to now but didn't expect anything to happen during May: “We can't bring anyone in until we have shipped a couple out. I don't anticipate anything happening until the middle of June.

“I will be away but the good thing about Majorca is I can be back in England in two-and-a-half hours so I can come back for the odd day as and when necessary.”

Town had hoped that Alun Armstrong might be on his way to Coventry on a free transfer but this looks less likely since their signing of Arsenal's Graham Barrett.

The Blues wil also hope to agre deals which see the exit of Matteo Sereni and Ulrich Le Pen sooner rather than later, and that one or two of the higher earners in the squad will depart. Andy Marshall, Martijn Reuser and Finidi George all having been offered free transfers.

Goalkeeper Ian Bennett from Birmingham could well be Royle's first signing once the Blues' transfer embargo is lifted, hopefully on June 4th. The Town boss admitted that out-of-contract Birmingham keeper Bennett was one of his targets last week.

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