Town boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed that trialist Kevin Foley is joining the Blues until the end of the season as a replacement for Jonny Parr, who is on the verge of a move back to Norway and Strømsgodset.

“Kevin is signing for us,” McCarthy told the club site. “He’s a great lad. He’s coming in until the end of the season to replace Jonny Parr, giving us good cover and competition for both full-back positions so we’re delighted to have him here.”

Foley, 31, has been on trial with the Blues and played in yesterday’s 2-2 U21s draw with Charlton.

Capped eight times by the Republic of Ireland, Foley left FC Copenhagen in the summer and has subsequently spent time training with Shrewsbury and Reading.

Previously he played for Mick McCarthy at Wolves, having started his career with Luton. Foley, who is primarily a right-back, also had a couple of spells on loan at Blackpool while at Wolves.

Speaking prior to yesterday's U21 game, McCarthy recalled signing Foley when manager at Molineux: “He played against us for Luton at Wolves and at the time we had some good wide players, Matt Jarvis and Michael Kightly, and he saw them all off.

“I signed him on the back of that and he was different class for me. He’s a great bloke, he’d fit in fabulously with the lads, if he’s all right, if he’s fully fit, but he looks it.

“He’s trained with us and he looks the part at the moment, so hopefully he’ll get through the game today.

“He was out playing in Denmark [with FC Copenhagen], he hurt his shoulder and he had to have an operation in the summer. That doesn’t bother me too much. If it was his legs it might be bothering me, but it was his shoulder.

“He’s a gentleman, he’s a lovely fella, he’d fit in perfectly with the rest of the lads. I hope he proves that he’s worth it.”

Photo: Action Images

Wacko added 00:32 - Jan 13 That's all very well, but will he fit in with the lads?
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WillsbridgeBlue added 00:52 - Jan 13 Sounds another old favourite of Mick's plus another paddy to boot! Knocking on a bit now though but hopefully he'll bring good experience due to that. Plus a much needed full back & strengthening of our defence. Welcome Mr Foley,I'm sure you'll fit in right away,especially as "different class" & "great lad." Mick's favourite phrases for his "favourites." Enjoy PR & help us to the promised land!

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timkatieadamitfc added 01:08 - Jan 13 Are we going for promotion? Why are we signing players who can't cut it at Shrewsbury/reading.We already had a great defender in Parr!!!!!!!!!!! Awesome result tonight though.COYB.
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Michael11 added 02:11 - Jan 13 I'll give him a chance but I really can't see him being anywhere near as good as Parr. I'm gutted to see him leave.
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sidtheswan added 06:09 - Jan 13 Good signing as we saw last night as Chambers had a good game unlike Saturday and will keep him on his toes !
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planetblue_2011 added 07:34 - Jan 13 Give him a chance he could be a decent player. Good cover for full backs & a bit of experience plus played 8 times for Ireland so he can't be that bad. When is Pratley coming?
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Stato added 08:09 - Jan 13 I spoke to a mate yesterday who knows the Digby family and has watched his career with interest. Apparently the Man U deal fell through as when Giggs returned from USA tour he said Digby not fast enough. Apparently he has many fine attributes but speed isn't one of them. Makes me think that despite what Mick said that Digby seen more of a moneyball signing than serious contender for the match day squad this season. Not being negative as have no problem with this some signings like this and at the moment we have on a low cost 5 month trial. Foley may well feature in the match day squad but I'm not expecting to see too much of Digby.

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parkinshair added 08:26 - Jan 13 When you look at our defensive backup there isn't exactly a great deal or experience. A polish lad with limited experience of championship football to say the least, a confused looking loanee and two or three lads who are still recovering from puberty. Foley has experience, is no mug, and will provide good competition. May not set the pulses racing but a sensible signing. Welcome to the club.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 10:21 - Jan 13 Hopefully solid enough to fill a gap if one should raise.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 10:37 - Jan 13 *arise: bloody predictive text!
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Manchesterblue3 added 10:54 - Jan 13 Good to have cover for the full back positions, would still love to see an ambitious signing of a young CAM, George Moncur from Colchester, or Bradley Dack from Gillingham, or even a loanee like Pritchard or Onomah from Spurs
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blues1 added 12:12 - Jan 13 Timkatieadam. He was only training at Shrewsbury/reading to keep himself fit. And planet blue, Pratley won't be coming as the prospective new owners of Bolton have said that after fees have been agreed for 3 other players that no more players are to be sold. Guess that could change but don't hold ur breath
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foot_kick_ball_goal added 12:15 - Jan 13 I liked Parr, he was versatile and could chip in with a goal or two per season. But MM has put his faith in Knudsen; and at 23, he could still develop a long way. Parr is 27 and is too good to sit and warm the bench, so I can understand why he would want to move on, good luck to him. Foley is a decent, experienced player who will be happy enough to provide cover and hasn't cost us an arm and a leg to bring on board. Add to the mix that MM has already worked with him and got some good performances out of him makes this a wise move in my opinion. Plus with how our current squad are performing it would be a bit harsh to say that he hasn't already assembled a good team that is doing quite well; and lets remember it wasn't that long ago that we were in administration. Those debts haven't just vanished into thin air and will still be hanging over the club for a while yet. The good news is that with the decisions that MM is making, not only will we be pushing for promotion every season, the debt will be steadily reducing. On a side note I strongly disagree that Ipswich play boring football. A shoestring budget combined with constantly being in the mix for promotion, entering every game uncertain of the result as it could go either way, but more often than not with a win; even if it is at the last moment? How is that dull?

7

jas0999 added 12:37 - Jan 13 Disappointing. We are fifth in the league, five points from second, but despite this are still signing below average very cheap options. We learnt on Saturday that many of our fringe players aren't good enough, yet we are now signing a mate of MM who simply can't be match fit after not playing. He is also not wanted by some much lower teams. Let's hope our regular back four don't get injured, suspended or burn out as otherwise we could be relying on a 31 year old who isn't fit, or a player not good enough to play for Barnsley or a polish fella who frankly isn't very good. I remain bitterly disappointed with ME and MM. Transfer strategy is simply not that of a promotion chasing team. Let's hope it doesn't end up biting us as it nearly did last season. Now is the time to twist.

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runaround added 13:16 - Jan 13 Welcome Kevin
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Northern_Blue81 added 13:54 - Jan 13 Totally see point in providing cover, but, what about pushing for promotion, SURELY we look to get some quality on the pitch to take us to the next step.
3

Currie10 added 14:15 - Jan 13 Lets give the guy a chance before we do the usual of writing a player off before they've kicked a ball shall we? MIck hasn't done too badly in the transfer market. A case of one in one out ( In Parr who was backup anyway ) and aged 31 with a point to prove I'd imagine this guy will fit in well with the atmosphere/ rest of the lads until the seasons out. I seem to recall both Wolves and Forest fans telling us Berra / Chambers / McGoldrick were rubbish and they haven't done so badly. N.Hunt/ Varney were met with choruses of groins/ negativity but both have played their part for us over time. C.Stewart got many creaming their pants along with C.Wood / Fryers and none of them 3 especially worked out very well for us.

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maninashed added 15:27 - Jan 13 If all we are doing is signing average cheap options how come we are fifth? Was Parr one of these and if so why is anyone concerned he has gone?
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Dalty added 15:34 - Jan 13 Remember having him my Fantasy Premier League squad a few years back on account of him being (a) cheap and (b) a regular starter for Wolves. Very solid signing with a decent amount of experience at the highest level. Doubt he'll be quite as good a signing (he's mainly being brought in as cover so won't need to be), but there's echoes of the Berra signing in terms of price, age and with both having fallen out of favour towards the end of their time at Wolves. If MM thinks he's up to it I'm happy to back his judgement.

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Gcon added 16:29 - Jan 13 currie10 'Hunt & Varney were met with a chorus of groins' - what a delightful image that conjures up!
1

Seasider added 16:47 - Jan 13 Can understand this signing as it is to replace Jonny Parr who wanted to go because he wasn't being given enough first team chances;and who can blame him. I do feel that we need to make a marquee signing along the lines of Jonny Williams,who is now back at Palace.The reason for this being that we have cover in every position in my opinion except for in midfield.I am ruling out Bishop and Didsy simply because there is no guarantee they will be back and sufficiently fit to influence this season.Leaving just Kevin Bru who had an excellent game yesterday;but he like the above are injury prone.Skuse and Hyam,and to a lesser extent Douglas are not offensive midfielders in my opinion,and Douglas' mobility will decrease further as he is now 34. I know some will say that Jonny is also injury prone;but it would give us the footballing options that have some times been lacking.Furthermore he would fit seamlessly into the squad having been here twice before. Bearing in mind that Mick has recently consolidated a play off spot it might give us that little extra as Marcus Stewart did some 15 years ago

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irishtim added 16:48 - Jan 13 Would have no worries about Foley playing if we have injuries. Solid dependable pro. Also knows this league well.
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Cheshire_Blue added 18:32 - Jan 13 Can't be any worse than Parr after that first half at Hull.
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braveblue added 18:47 - Jan 13 Not played since the summer. How can he replace Parr. Another ridiculous cheap option when we have just put in a great performance and gone 5th. Evans - you have no ambition. Just hope we get no injuries until end of season.
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Hegansheroes added 19:30 - Jan 13 Usual predictable crxp quotes from MM. Another of his old players so expect him to be a regular no matter how he plays
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