Town boss Paul Jewell will look to sign Wigan keeper Mike Pollitt in the summer, according to a report this morning. The 39-year-old, who was a member of Jewell's Latics squad, previously played one game while on loan with the Blues, the 3-1 home derby victory over Norwich in 2006.
Much-travelled Pollitt is out of contract in the summer and has played only three games for the Lancastrians this season, his only Premier League appearance having been as a sub. The Farnworth-born keeper has been a regular on Wigan’s bench throughout the campaign.
Town have offered new contracts to current keepers Brian Murphy and Arran Lee-Barrett but look likely to sell Hungarian international glovesman Márton Fülöp, who is out of Jewell’s starting XI at present and has only a year remaining on his deal.
Pollit started his career with Manchester United but moved on to Oldham in the summer of 1991 on a free transfer without making a senior appearance for the Red Devils.
He subsequently spent time with Bury, Lincoln, Darlington, Notts County, Oldham again but on loan, Gillingham, Brentford (loan), Sunderland, initially on loan before signing a permanent deal, Rotherham (loan), Chesterfield (loan) and Rotherham full-time before Blues boss Jewell signed him for Wigan in June 2005 for £200,000. In addition to his one-game loan spell with the Blues, the 6ft 3in tall stopper also had four games at Burnley in 2007.
Meanwhile, Town owner and chairman Marcus Evans is reported to have become close friends with Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp since becoming involved in football.
According to an "Ipswich insider”: "Marcus and Harry have become the best of pals in the last two years or so. When Marcus bought the club he had no football experience and turned to Harry for advice.
"But it has gone way beyond that since then. They have even had trips abroad in a private jet and played in Sir Bobby Robson’s annual golf tournament in Portugal.”
Evans sounded Redknapp out regarding the Town management situation when Roy Keane was sacked with Steve Cotterill and Sean O’Driscoll on the short-list along with Paul Jewell.
Their friendship is also said to be why the likes of Giovani Dos Santos, Andros Townsend and Jake Livermore have spent time on loan with the Blues in recent seasons and why Tottenham are understood to be the frontrunners for Connor Wickham’s signature if and when the 18-year-old striker makes the move into the Premier League.