TWTD understands that Town watched Brantham Athletic striker Ollie Mann as he netted a hat-trick in his side’s 6-2 Ridgeons League Premier Division victory at Newmarket Town yesterday. Dagenham and Redbridge, Leyton Orient and Southend have all previously checked out the 21-year-old, who has now scored 41 league goals this season.

Last Saturday, Daggers boss John Still was joined by his chief scout Mick Loughton to run the rule over Mann as he scored in a 2-1 home defeat to Great Yarmouth Town and he is set to train with the League One club this week.

Mann, who scored 44 goals in Brantham’s Ridgeons League First Division promotion season last year, missed the first nine games of this campaign through illness and injury but has ended it only one goal away from breaking the Ridgeons League Premier Division goals record of 42.

The Lawford-based builder has a year left on his Brantham contract with the Imps understood to have put a £20,000 price on his head.

Veteran former Town, Norwich and Colchester coach Steve Foley is a regular at what is one of his local clubs, but no longer has any connection with the Blues.

Meanwhile, Town will be represented at today’s Anderlecht-Club Brugge game, according to reports in Belgium. Everton, Sunderland, Rennes, Bordeaux, Galatasaray, Hannover, Freiburg, West Brom, Wolfsburg, De Graafschap, FC Eindhoven, Le Mans, MVV Maastricht, Standard Liege, Genk and Lokeren are all also said to be sending scouts.

Elsewhere, Town Player of the Year Jimmy Bullard is a guest on Goals on Sunday on Sky Sports One/HD1 at 11am this morning.

Photo: Action Images

TownOnTheUp added 10:55 - May 1 Yeah, I know we should be looking at the lower leagues, but it says something that the other clubs who want him are Dagenham, Orient and Southend. Still, I suppose somebody's got to give him a chance, and it might be worth it for only 20k.
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MarkITFC added 10:57 - May 1 This is where Charlie Austin came from and worked his way up . may as well give a go in ressies and let him work way up ?
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Youth added 11:19 - May 1 Surely if that good one of lower leagues would have signed him by now, please keep away and sign a proven scorer in at least the top 3-4 leagues!
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das_bones added 11:35 - May 1 Read about him in the star the other night an thought i wonder how long till we're linked with him? Two days is the answer!!!
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robdaful added 11:39 - May 1 Well it says he's 21 so a youngster. Could be worth a gamble. Wouldn't cost much either
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Mark added 11:44 - May 1 He's a long way down in the leagues, but at £20K (with low wages) he could be worth a punt for a free scoring 21-year-old. Hopefully our scouts can take a look and make a decision, but at least I am confident now that Ipswich are looking at the lower leagues and non-league rather than just the Premier League. It seems to be how Norwich have achieved recent success; how many Premier League players have they signed?!

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wessextractorboy added 11:45 - May 1 Would like to have a punt on Matt Tubbs at (Creepy) Crawley. They picked him up for £70k. If we dont, someone else will!
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robdaful added 11:47 - May 1 I forgot to say that Andy Dury was from low down luton and he seems to be worth the gamble. I think we have the Scouts and staff that are good at judging players.
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Darren_bent added 12:04 - May 1 definetely worth it can't be worse than spending 1.7 million on priskin for 6 goals in 60 odd games
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hollywoodginge added 12:35 - May 1 Watching Bullard on gos now, he wants to stay definitely, he is slightly worse for ware from last night tho clearly lol.
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StochesStotasBlewe added 12:42 - May 1 As i have heard by a Brantham player, this guy is awesome at ridgeons league level. Could be worth a gamble, then loaned out to league 1/2 team to gain fitness & experience. One for the future methinks.
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tractorblue99 added 12:53 - May 1 good be worth a punt but he wont be a first team regular. Anyone know why we are sending someone to anderlecht?
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jas0999 added 14:04 - May 1 PJ said he was looking for 'men' and 'experienced' players for next year.I agree. I hope there is nothing in this. Will take ages for these type of players to find their feet at Championship level. Just look at Drury - nowhere near good enough yet ... even PJ said he's struggled so hopefully lesson learnt!
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Gazelle added 14:15 - May 1 I've watched him a lot, he's good with both feet and in the air. Fast, strong, head and shoulders above any other striker in the Ridgeons League. Attitude is superb too.
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shoopdelang added 14:50 - May 1 I play in ridgeons league and have played against him, I have to say he is a good player. And I would like to see him given a chance. Although it is a massive, massive step up. As an Ipswich fan I wouldnt like to see us sign him, however I hope one of the other clubs linked does give him a chance.
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Ipswich24 added 15:05 - May 1 Bring him in there is no risk for that sort of dosh and send him on loan to league one or two club if nothing else will make money on him he is in our local catchment so why not us
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tortoise added 15:28 - May 1 I watched the game and Ipswich can have gained absolutely nothing from the game. Most of newmarkets first team were at the races and they were truly awful. He scored 3, but frankly i would have been disappointed if i hadnt scored 3 in that game! Did not look anything special and can't see it myself.
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itfckieren added 16:05 - May 1 Kevin Doyle signed for Reading from Cork for £80,000 David nugent signed for Preston from Bury for £100,000 Look at these two now.. worth a punt for £20,000 you never know?!
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Geo_ITFC added 19:10 - May 1 quality player i watch brantham now and then because i live there he has a quality finish on him and is very quick this move will also help brantham hopefully :)
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Geo_ITFC added 19:13 - May 1 so tortoise so u saying that the rest of his 44 goals were dissapointing aswell?
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tractor_boy_varnz added 20:54 - May 1 definitely worth a punt, anyone who scores 41 goals in a season clarly knows where the net is and it may be a huge step up but for only 20k and small wages it must be worth it!
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BranthamBlue added 22:32 - May 1 He is def worth a punt, having watched him all season, he produced some superb performances, scoring all types of goals, including a couple of crackers. It is no consequence that brantham season turned round as he soon as he returned from injury and illness. Would be a massive loss and but he deserves the chance though. At 20k a real bargain.
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BranthamBlue added 22:52 - May 1 tortoise ok newmarket were rubbish. But u beat whats in front of you and BAFC and in particular Ollie have tonked a number of sides including 5 past top 3 wroxham and dereham of which he scored hatricks. To score another 3 on top of this and 4 in one game isnt good then? and to score 41 goals after missing first month of season?
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tingey18 added 23:01 - May 1 Top lad. Top player. Know him well. Worth a punt. He will score goals and a really nice guy go for it town you will be top of his list!
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h32 added 23:23 - May 1 jason0999 - nothing at all wrong with signing players like this, which can invariably turn out to be shrewd business. Problem is, that if these players aren't coached from day one intensely, and even more important correctly, they can easily become almost lost, overawed, and disillusioned having moved into a different world within the game. Man management never having been more important than now. I personally believe the club is somewhat lacking in this specific type of quality coaching, and indeed general coaching -full stop. This is based on what we once had, compared with what we have now.

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