Former Drogheda United central defender Graham Gartland is understood to have spent this week training with the Blues after leaving the Eircom League club. Gartland was first linked with a move to Town in December 2007.

The 25-year-old has been released from his Drogheda contract early due to the club's major financial problems. Last year's Eircom Premier League champions recently went into examinership (Irish version of administration) having been unable to pay its players.

Gartland played his youth football with Home Farm, where Owen Garvan's father is a coach, before spells as a youth player with Barnsley and Dundee United. He returned to Ireland to play with St Patrick's Athletic and Longford Town, joining Drogheda in 2004.

Last year, the Dubliner caught the eye of several English clubs when he played alongside Alex Bruce for the Irish B side in a friendly against Scotland.

In addition to his B cap, Gartland has represented the Republic at U14, U16, U18 and U20 levels, and was called into the senior squad for the tour of the US in the summer of 2007 but was forced to drop out due to injury.

Despite the 6ft 1in tall defender's contract coming to an early end, Town would be unable to sign him until the transfer window opens in January.

Meanwhile, the reserve game against Watford set for Tuesday, 16th December will now be played on Monday, 15th December at Playford Road (KO 2pm).

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