Town boss Paul Jewell has admitted that the Blues are unlikely to sign former loanee Danny Collins on a permanent basis with the Stoke City defender probably preferring a switch to a club closer to his Cheshire home. Collins left Portman Road after an impressive 93-day loan last week.
Jewell says he’s not spoken to Potters boss Tony Pulis as yet but got the impression that Collins, whose fiancée recently gave birth to their first son, would prefer a switch to a side nearer to his Alderley Edge home: "I haven’t spoken to Tony, we’ve both been busy. Danny’s in a situation where he’s just had a new baby and I think he’s looking for something closer to Stoke.
"We haven’t had a lot of contact or encouragement on that one. I spoke to Danny before he left and thanked him and told him we’d like to bring him here but got the impression that maybe with his family situation he’s looking for something more in that area.
"I don’t think it’s anything to do with us, the club, I think [it’s what suits him] geographically at this moment, although that might change. It could change if we could sit down and they come to a deal but he’s got a year left of his contract at Stoke on Premier League money.
"I don’t want to count it out but I just get the impression that that might be a bit more difficult than I first thought.”
Premier League Wolves have been linked with the 31-year-old on a number of occasions, while North-West-based top flight sides like Wigan and Bolton could also move for the Chester-born defender.
Meanwhile, Jewell says there have been no developments regarding the contract recently offered to Josh Carson: "I still think that’s being thrown about between Simon Clegg and his agent. I spoke briefly last week with one of his representatives and they said it was ongoing.”
Carson, like Grant Leadbitter, is out of contract at the end of the season and the Blues boss says talks are also planned regarding the skipper's future: "The agent will get back to me and we’ll have a chat early next week.”