Former Blue James Scowcroft is set to join Crystal Palace and line-up against Town in Portman Road's 2006/07 opener on August 5th. The 30-year-old forward is undergoing a medical at Selhurst Park, the Eagles having agreed a £500,000 fee with Coventry City and will sign a three-year contract.

Sky Blues boss Micky Adams is disappointed to see Scowcroft, who also played under him at Leicester, leave the Ricoh Arena: "He's been offered more money and feels it's something he wants to pursue.

"He's got two years left on a deal here but I think half a million, when I brought him in for nothing, is a fantastic deal for us.

"But I'm disappointed. I've had him at two clubs now and he's done a fantastic job for me.

"While he may not particularly be a fans' favourite, if you ask his team-mates everybody respects the job that he tried to do for the club."

Palace manager Peter Taylor was previously Scowcroft's manager with the England U21s and was the man who took him from Portman Road to Filbert Street in the summer of 2001 for a fee in excess of £3 million.

New Town boss Jim Magilton is still to make the first signing of his managerial career, but is hopeful that one or more of the two permanent and one loan signings he has been lining up will be in place before his side takes on Lazio in a friendly on Friday (KO 8pm).

Elsewhere, former academy striker Alan Connell has joined Hereford United on a one-year deal from Torquay.

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