Boss Roy Keane says Jon Stead’s move to Bristol City is set to be confirmed today and that the Blues also expect to sign a new striker, Wigan’s Jason Scotland. Town and the Robins have set a £225,000 fee for Stead, who agreed a three-year deal at Ashton Gate last week.

Keane said: “I think that’s going to be done today. Steady’s gone down there and we’ve agreed a deal. I spoke to him yesterday and he’s agreed personal terms, so that looks like it’s done and dusted.”

“He goes with our best wishes because he’s done well for us in recent weeks when we’ve had a lot of injuries and one or two other strikers leaving the club. We wish him well, we’re disappointed to lose him, but that’s the situation we face at the moment.”

The Blues boss says he is hopeful that there could be a replacement, Wigan’s Jason Scotland, arriving this afternoon: “We hope to get one in today. We’ve given the thumbs up for Steady to go to Bristol, so I’m pretty sure that that deal will be done and dusted later today, otherwise we’d have held on to Steady.

“That’ll be three strikers out and one in, but we hope to maybe get one or two in over the next few weeks, probably loan deals and we’ll just go with what we’ve got.

“The international week gives us a couple of weeks to try and get some of our injured boys back. The way we were doing on Saturday we’re getting away with it, but over the course of the season any more injuries and we’ll be in trouble, but fingers crossed, so far the players are doing well.”

Town and the Latics recently agreed a £750,000 deal for Scotland but the move was put on hold while Wigan looked for a replacement for the 31-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international.

The Blues manager dismissed weekend reports claiming he was about to make a £4 million last move for Cardiff's Michael Chopra.

Keane says that Darren O’Dea will be OK to face Crewe on Tuesday, but is yet to decide whether Grant Leadbitter will be involved having returned more quickly than expected from his ankle injury.

Photo: Action Images

MackemReserves added 13:11 - Aug 23 Scotland is a very lazy striker and I can't see him getting on with Keane at all. Let's hope he gets off to a good start and scores on Saturday because he won't offer a lot else to the team. If Stead was on 5k instead of 15k a week we would have kept him i'm sure. We just need a RB and CM cover and that will probably be it as far as signings are concerned for now by the sounds of it.

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jezza78 added 13:17 - Aug 23 I reckon this will be the last perm signing, any others will be loans now. Very disappointing clearly no sign of ambition or faith in Keane. Clegg/Evans clearly haven't kept their side of the bargain. Evans must be concerned with something within his business. This is the last real opportunity to get up before Parachute payments get even higher for those dropping out of the Prem.

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lawshallgirls added 13:36 - Aug 23 according to bbc football scotland has signed a two year deal and will go straight into the crewe game tomorow chopra out for 3 to 4 weeks and stead will be in the squad to face us
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alfromcol added 13:36 - Aug 23 ""ChambersM added 13:06 - Aug 23 Good news on Scotland but the stead business is a disgrace"" WHY?
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 13:49 - Aug 23 My two penneth, for what it's worth: Sorry to see Steady go. He didn't always perform, but he did quite often just when we needed a boost. We should have kept him AND got Scotland. Scotland is a gamble, but, I think, a sensible gamble. He surely can't have lost all his goal scoring touch in just one year even if he will probably need a bit of time to get up to speed. I assume Keano is being tactical in distancing himself from the management on the subject of transfers, and I sympathise to an extent. But we have to remember, Keano wasted a lot of dosh when he first came, so if I were the boss of the whole outfit, I would be very loath just to give him a free rein to do it again this season. On the plus side, I think Keano seems to be shaping up much better now he's got his own system in place. I, like him, do worry about the thinness of our squad further down the line, and hope the owners will be able to see this too. Anyway, there may still be others to come in - loans if not permanent signings. I'm still cautiously optimistic, which is more than I felt last season! COYB!

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robdaful added 14:13 - Aug 23 Sorry Stead we have Scotland now and nobody wants Priskin.
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B__Ave added 14:23 - Aug 23 Shame to see Stead go, as he always gave 100% & has been a true pro - despite the uncertainty of his future. Seems that the fee is a bit small, but better for us to get something rather than leave the possibility of the player leaving on a free when his contract expires. Good luck Jon, just not against us...
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Fatcatevans added 19:44 - Aug 23 Balhamblue - ME Group reported enormous profits last financial year. Your theory is total pants therefore. Evans has obviously decided to get players out before buying. Stead despite his recent good form is out of contract after this year and can walk away. This and the fact that he doesnt score anywhere near enough goals make the decision to sell an easy one. Other than that you were spot on

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EatonBlue added 20:28 - Aug 23 I have nothing but praise for the way that Jon Stead has played since being told by Keane that he could go. He has given 100%. Good luck to him.
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tom_the_blue added 10:47 - Aug 29 By steady, thanks for your service
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tom_the_blue added 10:47 - Aug 29 But Scotland is a lot better and will score a hell of a lot more goals at this level.
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