Town, Hamilton Academical and St Johnstone have all made contract offers to former Drogheda central defender Graham Gartland, according to reports in the Irish Republic. Last week, TWTD revealed that the Irish B international had been training with the Blues.

The 25-year-old, who was first linked with Town in December 2007, has been granted early release from his Drogheda contract 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.

After TWTD revealed that Gartland had been training at Playford Road, boss Jim Magilton confirmed he had been at the club a fortnight ago, but said the move had not progressed any further than that at that point.

In addition to the interest from Town, Hamilton and St Johnstone, Swedish side Elfsborg are also said to be keen to take Gartland on trial, while fellow Swedes Helsingborg were previously linked.

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 Town's 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 officially until the transfer window opens in January.

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