Blues boss Paul Jewell is still hoping to add Leicester’s Republic of Ireland central defender Sean St Ledger to his squad before Wednesday’s visit to Birmingham. Keeper Alex McCarthy is set to complete his three-month loan deal from Reading today and will make his Blues debut at St Andrew’s.

St Ledger, 27, was recently transfer-listed at Leicester after a fallout with manager Nigel Pearson due to his lack of first team opportunities with the Town manager revealing his interest on Thursday.

Speaking after Saturday's game at Hull, Jewell said Town aren’t the only ones chasing St Ledger with unnamed clubs — one from Serie A, while Leeds are also claimed to be in the running — also having targeted St Ledger, who joined the Foxes from Preston for £1.2 million in the summer: “I’ve spoken to Nigel Pearson and I’ve spoken to the player’s agent and it depends on the player.

“There are a few clubs in for Sean. We’re in there and we just hope we can maybe get something done.”

He says Town and Leicester are still discussing a fee, perhaps implying the move might now be viewed as an immediate permanent switch rather than the loan with a view to a longer term deal initially mooted: “The chief execs are speaking, trying to thrash out a deal. We’ve got another player that we’re after as well, whether we can do both of them or not I’m not sure, but we certainly need to do one.”

The second player Jewell refers to is likely to be Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, who is set to join the Blues on a three-month loan today.

With Damien Delaney suffering a recurrence of his foot injury at Reading and Ívar Ingimarsson having left the club, the Blues boss admits that his defensive options are limited with Ibrahima Sonko and Tommy Smith the only fit centre-halves: “We’re desperately short [on central defenders] and we’ve got a tough game on Wednesday, but there’s still plenty of time to bring some players in.

“We were probably desperately short of centre-halves before the game. It’s an area where we need to improve and it’s one we’re trying to strengthen, I think everybody knows that. We have been trying to work since the window opened on bringing one, if not two, in.

“It’s always a difficult time at the start of the window because everybody is chasing the same types of player or a certain players and we’re not the only club interested in both players.”

Regarding exits, Jewell says there has been no interest and he doesn’t expect too many departures during the month: “I don’t see too many players going. We want to strengthen our squad, it needs strengthening. That doesn’t mean there won’t be any exits but I haven’t had any interest for anyone.”

Meanwhile, former Town central defender Troy Brown has joined League Two Aldershot on loan from Rotherham until the end of the season.

The Wales U21 international, who made his debut for the Shots in their 3-0 home defeat to Oxford on Saturday, opted for a move to the Millers in the summer despite having been offered a one-year deal by the Blues, but has made only four starts and two sub appearances, scoring one goal.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

MooseJuice added 11:44 - Jan 9 Bluelady - ha, I'll try and type a higher level of typed sarcasm next time ok ;)
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walberswick added 11:47 - Jan 9 If he signs he's stupider than he looks.
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whippet added 12:55 - Jan 9 Leeds will get him, they need cover for kisnorbo.
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bluelady added 12:58 - Jan 9 Aghhhh getcha moose ;-)
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fanofblue added 13:31 - Jan 9 Keep seeing Warnock`s name being mentioned by some fan`s,but correct me if I`m wrong,didn`t he say he was retiring at the end of this season.If so no good him being considered.Also a lot of QPR fans have commented about his playing players in there wrong positions,being bad at playing systems and lacking in motivation from the touchline,this sounds familier!
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vodkaboy added 13:44 - Jan 9 Rumour is fee is agreed but its St Ledger holding out for a his preferred move to Leeds that is hold up - so we are second choice (again!)
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fanofblue added 13:45 - Jan 9 Keep seeing Warnock`s name being mentioned by some fan`s,but correct me if I`m wrong,didn`t he say he was retiring at the end of this season.If so no good him being considered.Also a lot of QPR fans have commented about his playing players in there wrong positions,being bad at playing systems and lacking in motivation from the touchline,this sounds familier!
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HARRY10 added 13:50 - Jan 9 I should imagine that we have offered Leicester a loan deal and they are hanging out for a sale. Leicester will no doubt want to shuffle their squad a bit with an eye to the playoffs - and so will want a sale if they feel St Leger is not part of any push for the playoffs. Again it looks like we will be left with the crumbs from the table. Players unwanted by other clubs for both off field problems as on field failings. That we no longer buy players who show promise and are their clubs bright hopes show how far we have fallen. Maybe Clegg might care to put a sign up saying Oxfam, above our dressing room door.

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wherescounago added 14:19 - Jan 9 I am told he is a problem boy with a bad attitude who disrupts dressing rooms, will fit in very nicely I suspect!
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walberswick added 14:24 - Jan 9 Probably not playing Wednesday at this rate.
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PauloJulio added 14:44 - Jan 9 Whats wrong with Nyron Nosworthy or Danny Shittu???
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tractorboybig added 14:51 - Jan 9 I am a bit worried about this, he is only 27 and not on a loan, does not quite fit the picture.
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RRanger added 16:10 - Jan 9 Jewellinthetown - best post I've seen on this site for a very long time.For me the most important thing the club can do at the moment is commit to a Grade 1 academy. So far as bringing these amazing players in, it may just be that the amazing players are not available and the lack of activity (so far) is because PJ doesn't want second raters.
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bigolconnor added 16:16 - Jan 9 I read something Shane Supple said and It sounded pretty damning towards the club. He was a player who loved the club and became completely dissilusioned with the game and more importantly with the club. He said that when he got into the first team some of the players didn't care of they won or lost. This is apparently still the case and is obviously something that jewell cannot scratch away at. The only way that we can get players to play for the town is to make them feel like we adore them. Let's cheer everything wildly. EVERYTHING. Let's make so much noise that the opposition want to play for us and their supporters wish they were our supporters. If nothing else it would be pretty fun and they would probably show more of our games on the league show. Just a thought

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Stu_Magoo added 16:22 - Jan 9 Jewellinthecrown = MY HERO
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dirtydingusmagee added 16:34 - Jan 9 PJ, dont care who you are watching anymore, you had my support but you are a disaster,i dont like Warnock but he would have my vote to take your job . Ive supported Town since 1965 i stopped going to matches in December[2011] ITFC has become a joke, i never thought id ever get near to saying that,ive been a passionate supporter throughout those years, but i feel i am or want to be detached from what used to be a real football club .SAD YES , saying it wont win me any friends on here but i speak as i see it . .

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tractorboy1961 added 17:28 - Jan 9 Has porno Paul not left yet?
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bontcho9 added 17:51 - Jan 9 Anyone else think StLedger looks a bit like Michael Macintyre
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walberswick added 18:11 - Jan 9 No.
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manualthetisfanclub added 19:29 - Jan 9 Jog on jewell and take st ledger with yer!!!! Had enough of this circus of a football club!
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PauloJulio added 20:07 - Jan 9 Leon Cort has been released by Burnley. At 32 yrs old he just a baby!
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Bigfatgoalie added 20:12 - Jan 9 I read this forum avidly, every day. I've never posted until today but just had to register and post in praise of JewellintheTown's comment. Utterly hilarious!
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Michael11 added 20:14 - Jan 9 He'll probably come to us on loan and play out of his skin, then sign for someone else in the summer. Fed up with progressing everybody other teams players on loans, get some young players in who want to be here permanently!
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Gazelle added 20:36 - Jan 9 Swindon has the best defensive record in League 2, only 19 conceded in 24 games. If they're under 30 why not put in an offer for their whole back four and tell them they can keep Murray
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Gazelle added 20:36 - Jan 9 Swindon has the best defensive record in League 2, only 19 conceded in 24 games. If they're under 30 why not put in an offer for their whole back four and tell them they can keep Murray
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