Swindon pair Matt Ritchie (left) and Paul Caddis are the two players from one club that Town boss Paul Jewell revealed he had lodged a bid for after yesterday’s game. TWTD has learned that the Blues were represented at Barnet on Tuesday to watch the duo in action for the Robins in a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie.

Ritchie, the subject of a recent £500,000 offer from League One side Bournemouth and who is linked with Reading, Crystal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday in this morning’s tabloids, is a 22-year-old left-footed winger.

Born in Gosport, the 5ft 8in tall wideman began his career with Portsmouth making six starts and four sub appearances for Pompey, while also going out on loan to Dagenham, Notts County and Swindon.

After his second spell at the County Ground, he moved to Wiltshire on a permanent basis in January 2011, signing a deal until the summer of 2013. Swindon’s Player of the Year last season, Ritchie, who can play on either flank but usually the right, has scored nine goals in 29 starts during this campaign.

Speaking after Ritchie netted twice in yesterday's 2-1 win at Rotherham, manager Paolo Di Canio said he wanted to hang on to him if possible: "I told him a few days ago to concentrate on his football here.

"We want to keep him at the club and he is a key part of what we are trying to do. He was fantastic today and he challenged well. His finishes were very cool and I hope he can keep going."

Caddis

Right-back or right midfielder Caddis, 23, began his career with Celtic, making 10 starts and 14 sub appearances for the Glasgow side and also spending time on loan at Dundee United while at Parkhead.

Former Scotland U21 international skipper Caddis joined Swindon for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2010, signing a three-year deal. The 5ft 7in tall Scot's brothers Ryan and Liam play for Ayr United and St Johnstone respectively.

Town are unlikely to land the pair, who have built an impressive partnership down Swindon's right, for less than £1.5 million in total, although the clubs are probably discussing a players plus cash deal with Ronan Murray understood to be keen to sign on permanently with the League Two after his loan spell. The Irish U21 international is likely to reduce the Blues’ outlay by around £100,000 with his contract up this summer.

In addition to the Swindon pair, Blues boss Jewell revealed that his side had also tabled a third bid and that the club hoped to do the deals by the time they visit Leeds next week.

Meanwhile, ex-Blues defender Hermann Hreidarsson has been linked with a move from Portsmouth to Coventry City.

Photos: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

mutters added 15:18 - Jan 15 Happy with these players. onwards and upwards
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GTRKing added 15:35 - Jan 15 No they will help us & we need young hungry players in the team
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CornardBlue added 16:01 - Jan 15 These are the type of signings we need, really enjoyed yesturday with the younger players, with hunger and plenty of effort, Jason held the ball up well and the midfield supported him well. even Holloway was suprised by the way Town closed his team down. Was very pleased for Tommy Smith still think he will make a good centre half for us. Finally i thought the team spirit was the best i have seen this season because apart from the keeper we had no loan players in the team.

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singtown added 16:18 - Jan 15 Corneredblue : That's a very good point, only GK is on loan, and if this young team can show grit and determination the team spirit shall carry thru a long way. Maybe PJ should play ALB in next game without any loanees! U never know things may turn around!!!
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Tractastic added 16:48 - Jan 15 Look like good players at a good age and if the Swindon fans rate them as posted earlier that says everything.Fingers crossed but don't forget the centre back. Maybe the new scouts who have come on board are starting the make the difference already.
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cornishblu added 17:05 - Jan 15 ....great to see youngsters beiong looked at ....just trust if we get a couple that their early experince is good.....need the older players to step up and mentor.....only slight negative was the not so recent experince of Sam Parkin.....so much was hoped for , admitedly unlucky with injury.....lets get youngesters in, dont put the pressure on (esp form the moaners on this board) and lets build slowly.....be patient COYB

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newberysblueboys added 17:11 - Jan 15 Would be good signings but , why not take a gamble on someone like matt tubbs ? Chopra hasn't exactly been firing on all cylinders ? Centre back , Darcy Blake?
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horsenotfitforwork added 17:46 - Jan 15 For what it's worth, I watch some L1 & L2 football as part of my job, and Ritchie looks a class act at that level. Left footed, but I've seen him play on both flanks, passing and crossing both very strong and scores some spectacular goals. Was surprised when Portsmouth let him go, but then some managers don't appreciate quality when it's right under their noses as we know from the Jordan Rhodes debacle. Haven't seen enough of Caddis to judge, but looks like 1.5m well spent to me.

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forensic_bloo added 18:31 - Jan 15 I was at that Barnet game, and it was noticable that the majority of Swindons' attacking play was coming down the Bees right flank, so I would assume that this was Ritchiw causing problems. Caddis stood out after theatrically going down in the first few minutes and getting the Bees skipper booked. However, he than played quite an influental role for the rest of the game. Neither player stood out as a premier league player in the waiting, but then I wasn't really watching Swindon in the first place, and it was a competitive cup tie, which tends to snuff out the more skilful players. Hopefully we'll buy these two, and give the Bees a better chance of getting a result at the county ground and reaching Wembley for the JPT final :) (oh, and they might be a gem in the making, and it would be nice for us to pluck one of them out for a change)

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scooterblue added 18:41 - Jan 15 Caddis is a good player. he couldn't get past the German full back Andy Hinkel whilst at Celtic. he's got pace and reasonable shot. will also run all day.
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Gazelle added 19:40 - Jan 15 Would you believe it, i mentioned two from Swindon a couple of weeks ago. PJ must have read my post.
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suffolkpunchdrunk added 20:59 - Jan 15 Oh the highs and lows of following ITFC. Cast your minds back to 15th January 2001. Town were fourth in the Premiership and level on points with Arsenal. Fast forward to today and we are a struggling Championship outfit getting all excited about the possibility of signing a couple of players from Swindon - happiness is relative to your circumstances I suppose!

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casanovacrow added 21:22 - Jan 15 suffolkpunchdrunk - on a brighter note, back then go through the players we had in the squad back then, where did they come from, how old were they. Not journeymen were they? we are going in the right direction with these kind of signings. even looking at the teams who get promoted year on year there aren't many in history that are full of journeymen.
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bubblesblue79 added 21:27 - Jan 15 These two lads will be great signings can't wait, !!!glory will come to Ipswich soon!
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walberswick added 21:29 - Jan 15 Why would Swindon let them go? They have a good chance of promotion.
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yorksblue added 21:34 - Jan 15 Have a look at Stevenage defenders. They're not doing too much wrong at the moment.
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runaround added 21:40 - Jan 15 Sound promising players but I dont believe Swindon will let them go without a fight
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budgieplucker added 21:52 - Jan 15 I second the comments made by Alfromcol. Jimmy Bullard was the inspiration for our recovery last year from the depths of this league. I don't understand why people are being so critical, he has hit a bad patch of form and will come good again. It hasnt helped with Andrews, Bowyer and Leadbitter all being played together who are all very similiar. Yes the diamond worked for a while but has got busted. Edwards will be on his way at the end of the season if these two sign. Dont get me wrong I like Carlos and i think he has been good going forward but he is no better than Jamie Peters for me in the right back position. Also if my memory serves me rightly he was offered a new deal last year but chose to turn it down, can anyone else recollect? I wouldn't be prepared to offer any existing senior player on our books an extension or new contract on more than they are earning at the moment. These two players from Swindon are the right types of players to invest in. On the form of the last two games Andy Drury looks great value for £150,000 and must be worth more to us as a squad player than the fee Town thought they had agreed with Crawley.

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bluearmy4life added 21:57 - Jan 15 Finally a little bit of positive news!! Fit the bill, young and hungry players. Let's seal the deal quickly so we can new players in place for DIRTY LEEDS AWAY.
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alfromcol added 22:33 - Jan 15 Interesting to see how Edwards shapes up against Andros Townsend when Town play Leeds on Saturday. If Townsend plays like he did on several occasions when he was on loan to Town I think we will need some cover down the right hand side on Saturday.
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Ipswich24 added 23:40 - Jan 15 These are exactly the type players that excite me and should be targeting would be delighted if can secure them both
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TractorRoyNo1 added 00:55 - Jan 16 tell me the kid is a real right back and knows how to defend - if so he'll do for me
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BrettenhamBlue added 07:18 - Jan 16 These 2 really would be good signings. Early stages though,- afterall we have only put in an offer. Meanwhile we should put in an offer for Kane Ferdinand. As for Bullard, don't know why he is getting so much stick. With youth alongside him he could prove awesome.
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WarkyWonderLand added 08:20 - Jan 16 After Saturday, the players used and formation played it shows what our captain really gives this team. Time to move him on if the team is to get better. Hyam and drury put in better energy and passion than he brings. Surely even PJ could see that. As for the players linked, type of players we need. Goals scored by Ritchie on Saturday were quality. Got to say that martin on Saturday in the role he played was one if the best games I had seen him play and jet gave us more. Coyb

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