Bristol Rovers boss Mark McGhee is looking forward to bringing his side to “brilliant” Portman Road in the first round of the Capital One Cup but isn’t overly chuffed about having to make a 400-mile round trip. Town is the furthest possible trip the League Two side could have been handed in the regionalised draw split on a north-south basis.

The Blues have been handed similarly lengthy first round League Cup trips themselves in recent years with a tie at Shrewsbury in 2009/10 and at Exeter the following year.

McGhee, who was a member of Sir Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen side which beat then-holders Town in the UEFA Cup in 1981/82, says that while he likes coming to Suffolk he’d prefer to be playing nearer to home: “It's not ideal from a timing or travelling point of view — especially if our first league game of the season was to be away from home in the far reaches of the north on the [following] Saturday.

"Equally, it is a fantastic place for us to go. It is a game against Championship opposition and is one that we can use as a focus and motivation throughout the weeks of pre-season.

"Portman Road is a brilliant place to play, I've always loved going there. It's a great pitch and there is always a good atmosphere, so I'm looking forward to that one already because it will be a good test for us."

The tie is likely to be played on Tuesday 14th August, although the Football League has said it will allow clubs to move matches to the preceding Saturday, something McGhee said his club would consider, although they have already have a pre-season friendly against Coventry pencilled in for that day.

The Olympics will still be going on on the Saturday, which means there will already be significant pressure on transport links which would be used by both Rovers and Town supporters getting to the game.

Clubs will learn their league fixtures on Monday at 9am, when Town's will be available on TWTD, and a decision on the scheduling of the Capital One Cup tie is likely after that.

Meanwhile, former Blues boss Roy Keane is reported to be in the running for the vacant manager’s job at Birmingham City, along with Lee Clark, Alan Curbishley, and Phil Brown.

Elsewhere, ex-Town defender Troy Brown, 21, has had his Rotherham contract terminated by mutual consent and has joined Aldershot, where he ended last season on loan.

Photo: Action Images

RegencyBlue added 09:09 - Jun 15 I work with a Rovers fan - please god we win this or I will suffer for months!!
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taylor15 added 09:09 - Jun 15 great to hear managers praising our pitch, and facilities. roy keane for birmingham?! you're having me on... and that's a shame for troy brown. i thought he looked okay at the back up of the season for us!
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brittaniaman added 09:15 - Jun 15 The Dark Lord for Birmingham Hey ??? with Adrian Chiles as his assistant wow !! ????
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Hux added 09:59 - Jun 15 I too work with a Rovers fan, and he is relieved that i wont be around the day after to rub his nose in it! Should be an easy path to the next round, where we can draw Birmingham possibly managed by Keane??
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gypo added 10:31 - Jun 15 Mark McGhee hasn't been to Portman road for a few years then " always a good atmosphere ". Well you'll be in for a shock there then matey.
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raycrawfordswig added 10:55 - Jun 15 gypo Spot on. More noise in a graveyard.
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denhamblue added 11:15 - Jun 15 atmosphere lol yeah right.
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JewellintheTown added 11:42 - Jun 15 Not a good atmosphere at PR? Well make some decent noise then, and I dont mean moaning.
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NoCanariesAllowed added 12:00 - Jun 15 Meh. It happens, McGhee - look at how Ipswich had to start the 2010/11 season. Middlesbrough away and Exeter away. Couldn't possibly have racked up more miles in a first week of the season. Besides, far worse for a big team travelling miles to play at a League Two ground than for a smaller side to make the trip to a more impressive stadium! Interesting to see this whole 'rearrange to Saturday' option. Wonder if many clubs will be using it? (On a selfish note I would be in favour, given my trip to Portman Road from the Midlands is rather easier on a Saturday afternoon than a midweek evening!)

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Mark added 12:41 - Jun 15 It'll be a low key start to the season presuming this is our first home game, but it's good to have a home tie. Please be fair with the ticket prices ITFC considering that you've over priced the West Ham friendly at £14/£15 for adults! Keane seems to be linked with most high profile jobs, but no team in their right mind would take him on. So Rotherham have terminated Troy Brown's contract? I remember Jewell getting flak over not offering him a better deal here, so he is perhaps slightly vindicated over that.

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AlanMahon2011 added 13:42 - Jun 15 Easy 3 points for ya bristol
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Blueulster added 14:03 - Jun 15 AlanMahon it is a cup game, unless the capitol one cup is going down the champions league route by having groups before the knockout phase..points are not up for grabs
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yorksblue added 17:25 - Jun 15 Please don't remind me of the Aberdeen games.
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Urchin added 18:13 - Jun 15 Talking of the dark lord - take a look at this- yet another keane supporter (i think not).... http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/lord-gdansk-had-dreams-songs-105709489.html
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s6blue added 20:27 - Jun 15 coyb
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bluearmy4life added 07:33 - Jun 16 In reference to the atmosphere time for the other three stands to make some noise too. Can't just rely on the Sir Bobby Robson stand all the time. I have to admit we haven't had a lot to cheer about in recent years but if the fans don't give it there all and just go PR to moan don't expect much from the pitch.
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Dissboyitfc added 09:47 - Jun 16 AlanMahon.... and you think Cleggs an Idiot? you are clueless yourself!!...coyb
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h32 added 11:43 - Jun 16 bluearmy4life - you've got it all the wrong way round - 'cheering' is the end product of being entertained, and evidence of SATISFACTION. Anyone who 'cheers' failure need to check their marbles.
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TimmyH added 13:01 - Jun 16 I vote we give it 'our all' vocally for the first month at PR, whether we are losing/winning/drawing, if then the results aren't coming then I agree with h32 post above! - if we're still not getting the results after that all the rotten vegetables that usually go on the compost heaps can be brought to PR :)
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Garv added 22:08 - Jun 16 I guess that shows the sort of supporter you are then h32.
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lilcornishblue added 12:43 - Jun 17 Ahhhh well you win some you lose some :)
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h32 added 21:51 - Jun 20 Garv - Jewell will always love people like you - expect very little and accept anything. If cheering failure is right for you and your 'crew' - words fail me, and that doesn't happen often !!
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