Boss Paul Jewell says the Blues might find it hard to persuade other managers to allow their keepers to move to Portman Road on loan as they’re unlikely to play games. West Ham youngster Marek Stech was on trial with Town earlier this week, but we understand the Czech U21 international has now left, with another club where he stands more of a chance of playing games showing interest.
Jewell is looking for cover for first choice David Stockdale, whose loan from Fulham includes a 24-hour recall clause, and Arran Lee-Barrett.
Speaking at the end of last week, Jewell said bringing in another keeper on a temporary basis may not be easy: "If I ring up a manager asking if I can take a goalkeeper on loan to sit on the bench, he’s not going to do it. That’s the difficulty.
"It’s one where we’re looking to the future. We know we’re in the hands of Fulham a little bit with Stocky. We knew that when we took him, we knew it was a risk but think it’s a risk worth taking for such a high quality goalkeeper.
"But he could go back at any time. We’ve got Arran Lee-Barrett, we’ve got Richard Wright still training with us, but in the long-term we need a young goalkeeper or one that’s coming into his prime.
"We’re not going to be able to keep Stocky [beyond the end of the season] I wouldn’t have thought. If Fulham were going to sell him we wouldn’t be able to afford him. We’ve one eye on the future really - we need that top goalkeeper coming through.”
Goalkeeper-coach Malcolm Webster, who has now had his short-term contract extended until the end of the season, says plenty of potential signings are being eyed: "We have already formed a list of potential targets which we are adding to and taking away. We have two other lists — one for possible replacements if David Stockdale has to go back and one for free transfers.
"The difficulty with young goalkeepers is that if they are currently playing, do you want to bring them to your club at the moment and then not play them?
"Playing games is such an important part of their development. It is a very delicate one. We are travelling round the country and watching them in games to ensure we get the right one.”
Trialist Stech, 21, is unlikely to get games with West Ham, even in their reserves, so might have been interested in a switch to Town, but he is now believed to be the subject of loan interest from another club where he would have a greater chance of playing first team matches. Earlier in the month, League One Yeovil wanted the former Slavia Prague youngster as cover.
One of the other keepers on Jewell and Webster's list may be West Brom’s Luke Daniels, who was recently watched by Blues assistant manager Chris Hutchings.
Elsewhere, Jewell was spotted at last night's game between Sheffield United and Huddersfield at Bramall Lane, which the Terriers won 3-0.
The Blues have previously been linked with Blades striker Ched Evans, a second half sub last night, and defender Matt Lowton, while one of the weekend tabloids claimed that Town are amongst a number of Championship clubs interested in taking midfielder Stephen Quinn, ex-Blue Alan Quinn's younger brother, on loan. United boss Danny Wilson has subsequently said he is not looking to allow Quinn to move on.
Meanwhile, a Town reserves side, including the likes of Ãvar Ingimarsson and Nathan Ellington, is playing a behind-closed-doors friendly against Gillingham this afternoon.
While today’s game isn’t open to the public, the Blues have confirmed that spectators will be welcome at some of this season’s reserves matches, all of which will be friendlies with Town having withdrawn from the league.