Boss Jim Magilton says he is still looking to add to his backline, despite signing central defenders Pim Balkestein and Gareth McAuley this week.

Magilton told the club site: "If the players we want become available then we would be interested.

"What we really want to do is make sure that the spine of our team is strong. Gareth and Pim have both come in and we have Alex Bruce, Richard Naylor and young Tommy Smith, so we have competition for places. But that certainly doesn't mean we have stopped looking, we are always on the look out for good players."

Town have previously made an enquiry regarding Cardiff central defender Roger Johnson, while chief scout Steve McCall recently watched Macedonian international Nikolce Noveski in action, another central defender, but someone who also plays at left-back.

Both full-back positions appear to need strengthening with Dan Harding out of favour and Sito, Fabian Wilnis and Michael Synnott all leaving the club over the summer.

If transfer-listed Harding were to leave, David Wright and youngster Kurt Robinson would be virtually the only out and out full-backs at the club. Dagenham and Redbridge left-back Scott Griffiths is another player who has been monitored by the Blues in recent months.

Magilton says he is chuffed to add McAuley to his squad: "He is another piece in the jigsaw.

"I have been a long time admirer of his. He's a threat going forward from set pieces, as we know to our cost when he scored twice against us a few years back.

"He is a big presence in the penalty area at both ends of the pitch and we are delighted to have him at this football club."

The Northern Irish international looks a strong candidate to be named captain of his new team with Magilton not due to decide on his skipper until nearer the start of the season.

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