Sheffield Wednesday have pulled out of the race to sign Portsmouth’s Joel Ward, according to reports in South Yorkshire. The Owls had joined the Blues, Leeds, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Blackpool in targeting the versatile 22-year-old.

Pompey’s administrator Trevor Birch expects Ward to make his decision in the middle of this week having accepted bids understood to be in the region of £450,000 from the various interested parties. Wednesday are said to have shown interest but were put off making an offer by the size of the fee.

Meanwhile, Coventry have rebuffed what they have termed a "derisory” offer from Bristol City for centre-half Richard Keogh, who is also believed to be interesting Town.

In addition to the Robins’ bid, Sky Blues development director Steve Waggott says his club has received other interest in the 25-year-old former Republic of Ireland U21 international: “We’ve had approaches, by telephone and email, from three or four interested Championship clubs that haven’t led to a formal offer.

“The type of player Richard is he’s going to attract attention and we’ve got to consider all reasonable offers that come in."

Keogh, a former Blues Academy schoolboy and Portman Road ballboy, has a year left on his Coventry contract.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

Fatboy added 09:24 - May 22 One down four to go.
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Marcus added 09:34 - May 22 Zero down, six to go...
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Sindre94 added 09:38 - May 22 I have a feeling it will be Palace, but please Joel, do the right thing and pick Ipswich
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Sindre94 added 09:39 - May 22 Nigel Clough says Steve Davies WILL leave this summer, and hes made available for transfer, although they would like to keep him.
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Sindre94 added 09:42 - May 22 That was the wrong link, wooops..
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Mr_Evans added 09:45 - May 22 Phil, have town actually confirmed they have offered a contract to Ward? I think he would be a good signing, especially as he is out of contract. Although I'd be surprised if we signed the boy.
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Lightningboy added 09:48 - May 22 Getting really fed up with this guy..what are we waiting for?..for all the clubs linked with him to pull out so we're the only ones left? Tell him or his agent to make up his/their minds by 2moro or we start looking elsewhere...i'm sure we can find better.
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Seasonticketsteve added 11:24 - May 22 Anyone seen the article with Snodgrass on Sky Sports this morning, would seem all is not well at Leeds at the min which makes me think maybe Ward is having second thoughts about going there. I always thought he would go to Burnley to work under Eddie Howe again, however Burnleys parachute payments must have finished now so maybe out of the teams left we do have the most realistic chance of challenging for promotion in the coming years, will probably get slated for that comment but I believe we are only a few shrewd signings away from being a good team in this league!

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