Yesterday's claims that the Blues have made an offer in excess of £1 million for Crewe striker Nicky Maynard are reported to have been denied. Town made an enquiry regarding the 21-year-old last month, but according to reports this lunchtime there have been no further developments.

Maynard is strongly tipped to be the next star to roll off the famous Gresty Road production line with Town, Fulham, Hull City, Middlesbrough, Blackburn, Bolton, Sunderland and West Brom all having been linked with him over the summer.

The Winsford-born frontman was in the Crewe youth side which reached the FA Youth Cup semi-finals in 2004 and a year later signed his first professional deal with the Alex. In 2006 Maynard spent time on loan with Unibond League side Witton Albion.

His good form for Witton and in Crewe's reserve side saw him make his full debut for the Railwaymen as a sub on the final day of the 2005/06 season.

Maynard became a regular for Crewe the following season, scoring 19 goals in 32 starts and six sub appearances. Last year, he continued to be a threat in front of goal, but the early part of his season was disrupted by a broken fibula and ankle ligament damage sustained in August against Brighton.

In April, the 5ft 11in tall striker netted his first senior hat-trick in a 3-1 home win over Cheltenham, ending the season having scored 15 goals in 25 starts and three sub appearances.

Maynard, whose father Dave was a well known non-league player, is contracted to Crewe until the summer of 2010, having signed a four-year deal in 2006.

Meanwhile, former Town youth player James Hollman has confirmed that he is very much in the running for the role of goalkeeper-coach at Portman Road, as TWTD reported earlier in the week: "I had an Ipswich interview two weeks ago and am keeping my fingers crossed. My record speaks for itself, I believe.”

Hollman, 30, was a youth player with the Blues before moving into non-league football with King's Lynn, while also coaching at the Town academy alongside Bryan Klug, now the Blues' first team coach, and working with keepers like Lewis Price.

The Canterbury-born stopper subsequently moved on Norwich where he spent seven years, having been recruited by Sammy Morgan, then with the Canaries, but now the education officer at Town's academy.

If he gets the job Hollman could be reunited with Richard Wright if the former England man rejoins the Blues from West Ham. Hollman says the two keepers grew up together at Town: "Richard was always a year above me at Ipswich despite us being the same age. From a young age he has always been an outstanding keeper.”

Former keeper-coach Malcolm Webster, currently with Southampton, is keen on returning to his old role, but no announcement regarding who gets the job is likely until next week with the Town squad and management away at Loughborough University at present.

The Blues take on an English Universities side in a friendly at Loughborough on Friday.

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