Bristol City skipper Cole Skuse has agreed to join the Blues on a three-year deal this summer, according to reports in a number of today’s tabloids. The 27-year-old, who is out of contract, has been a rumoured Town close season target for several weeks.

Midfielder Skuse, who has also played in defence, has spent his entire career with his hometown club, having made his debut in the 2004/05 season.

The Robins' Player of the Year in 2009/10, he has made a total of 245 starts and 62 sub appearances, scoring nine goals.

Speaking earlier this week, Bristol City boss Sean O’Driscoll admitted that his relegated club would struggle to hold on to their captain: "He's available on a free transfer. I'd love him to stay, but that decision may have already been made. He's a good lad and we've sat down and chatted about things."

Elsewhere, Mick McCarthy is said to be interested in bringing Wolves striker Kevin Doyle to Portman Road.

Republic of Ireland international Doyle, 29, has another year left on his contract at Molineux but seems likely to move on now that the Midlanders' relegation to League One has been confirmed.

McCarthy signed the former Cork City man from Reading when manager at Wolves for a reported £6.5 million in the summer of 2009. Since then he has scored 30 goals in 131 starts and 17 sub appearances.

The Blues boss is a fan of Doyle but earlier this week played down suggestions that he'd return to his old club for summer signings, although McCarthy would be keen to sign loanee Richard Stearman on a permanent basis if a deal can be done.

"They’ve got good players but that doesn’t mean to say I’m going to go tripping back there to sign them," he said.

"And who’s to know what they’re going to cost and what wages they’re on anyway. I’m not thinking that’s my fishing ground at all, not whatsoever.”

Stearman, meanwhile, has tweeted his goodbyes to all at Portman Road: "Would just like to thank everyone connected with ITFC, loved every minute of my time there, which was made so easy by everyone connected with the club.

"So glad we succeeded in our goal of staying up, massive achievement from where started. Thanks again for your support, enjoy your summer."

Photo: Action Images

charsfield added 17:44 - May 5 agree with Shropshire, wolves have great players on paper but this year will have had a bad impact on them mentally. Posh have been excellent at times since they began to climb off the bottom and were v unlucky to go down. The goals they scored yesterday were pretty tasty. Still would be happy with Skuse despite not knowing anything about him
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chenners17 added 18:20 - May 5 Skuse- Great experienced player to help with hyam improve further as a player and give him advice AND as people have already mentioned, we need to look at the posh not wolves! We need a further striker and go for delight gaggle, and maybe for a winger, Mendez yang? Scored a great goal against palace and is a string packet winger that we need with an attacking threat
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chenners17 added 18:21 - May 5 Dwight gayle#
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WickedBlue added 19:01 - May 5 The real funny thing is your questioning MM's ability to manage after he just saved us! Feckimg amazing! Knows more about what to do and what players to bring to this club than the bunch of you put together.
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riley26 added 19:18 - May 5 Skuse, decent squad player, can play midfield and defence. Doyle, if at a reasonable price/wages he would be a good signing, not long ago he was the best striker in the league with Reading and scoring goals in the Premiership with Wolves. Elsewhere, we must be looking at Posh's players, some real quality among their ranks, I am almost a bit sorry they went down, far more entertaining than the likes of Huddersfield. Hopefully we get Judge, Albert Adomah another pacey winger at Bristol City, but haven't seen a great deal of him to be honest.

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John_Portman added 19:27 - May 5 Peterborough know how to score goals, so agree with ^^^ lets raid! Skuse is a good signing, very solid and assured and experienced, but not too old! Nice solid DM too! one more cm and someone who can play on the wings, then a striker + loanees signing = sorted! Mick knows best
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RetroBlue added 19:42 - May 5 For some reason the Brizzle fans appear convinced that we are signing Skuse but will be paying him £22k per week!! http://www.otib.co.uk/index.php?/topic/154484-skuse-on-his-way/
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Vexorg added 19:48 - May 5 Well said Wicked. This is the time of the year that several board members show why their football management career is limited to paying £30 a week to watch someone else's team ..
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shefkuqi32 added 20:07 - May 5 Although not perhaps the first i would think of i trust mick knows what hes doing. i like doyle though. all in all In mick we trust!
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Tractorog added 20:11 - May 5 The biggest disappointment for me is the tweet from Stearman... Sounds like he is not coming back. Hopefully I'm reading too much into his comments.
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 20:55 - May 5 Wicked - its all about opinions!
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dirtydingusmagee added 20:55 - May 5 Mick has done a bloody good job since being appointed. To finIsh the season as we have is better than most could imagine. YET already moaners are critising or questioning his judgement or signings. Unbelievable !
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itfcserbia added 21:36 - May 5 retroblue - reading the Bristol fans comments on the link you provided... seems there's quite a bunch of them there not really appreciating him as a quality footballer... i personally never saw the lad play but i'd dare to trust Mick's judgment... as for 22k per week gossip, that'd be just bewildering...
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Tractorog added 23:15 - May 5 Looking at Skuse history he played right back at Bristol under McInnes. I hope we're not signing him because we can't afford Stearman. Having said that no one can accuse Mick of having a bad eye for a defender. If he wants Skuse I'm sure he will be pretty decent. The TWTD pun headlines with Scuse could be endless.
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Tractorog added 23:17 - May 5 Latest news: apparently Mrs Doyle' has responded to the news by saying "ah go on, go on, go on"
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Wussinwhiteboots added 23:39 - May 5 Why on earth would MM go back to Wolverhampton for their cast offs? When they sacked him they had 14 points out of a possible 66. If he couldn't get the best out of them on premiership wages, what makes you think he'll do much better on lower championship wages?
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PhoenixArizonaFan added 05:56 - May 6 Wow, it didn't take long for the negativity to kick in. The season has only been over for a day. Look at what Mick has accomplished in the last five months. We're in good hands. I trust his judgement. If Skuse has indeed signed, then welcome aboard.
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 06:46 - May 6 Cant see many negative comments on here!??!
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PhoenixArizonaFan added 08:04 - May 6 Fact is there is no need for any negativity at this point. If we had been relegated that would be one thing. Mick did the impossible... I'm really excited for next season. Finally feels we have something to look forward to.
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bluemay77 added 09:30 - May 6 Strength in depth is what we needs skuse and Doyle would not be bad signings lets not use loan system next season and bring youngsters through and mix them with experience
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theobald1985 added 10:04 - May 6 all this talk of raiding teams is nonsense. why should we raid anybody? skuse is a good player and with drury and stearman gone he is can cover both positions so a sensible signing. if we sign tabb murphy mcgoldrick and re contract martin i will be happy enough. these players have done well under mick and personally i feel too many changes will see us go backwards.

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Stato added 10:10 - May 6 Unless someone can correct me I can't see that Skuse scored a single league goal this season, or has been credited with even one assist ?
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TractorCam added 11:23 - May 6 I would much prefer Ebanks-Blake to Doyle myself
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TractorCam added 11:38 - May 6 Bristol City fans i've been talking too are saying he's loyal but is kind of ****.... Whether he is or not, I have faith in Mick.
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ManningtreeBlue99 added 11:43 - May 6 Bristol City seem to think he is useless and we are signing him on 22k a week?!
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