Town have revealed that former Republic of Ireland left-back Stephen Ward will spend the next week or so training at Playford Road.

The 34-year-old Dubliner is a free agent having left Stoke City at the end of 2019/20.

“Stephen is with us for a little while,” Town’s general manager football operations Lee O’Neill told the club site.

“He’s training with us and will have a look at the club and we will have a look at him. It’s no more than that at this stage.”

Ward started his career with hometown club Bohemians before joining Wolves, then managed by Mick McCarthy, in January 2007 with then-Town boss Jim Magilton having confirmed that the Blues were also interested.

Ward spent seven years at Molineux featuring regularly in the Premier League before moving on to Burnley in 2014.

"After five further seasons in the top flight at Turf Moor, the 5ft 11in tall left-back or winger moved to Stoke last summer. However, he made only 17 appearances and left at the end of the season. Ward has been capped 50 times by the Republic of Ireland, scoring three times.

Town running the rule over Ward would appear to suggest that they are looking at alternative to former loanee Luke Garbutt, who the Blues are known to have pursued this summer.

However, the League One salary cap introduced on Friday has limited Town’s ability to add to their squad and the Blues management seem to have opted to move on to another target likely to demand a lower wage, despite reports over the weekend that a final offer had been made to the ex-Everton man, who is also interesting Sunderland.

Photo: Action Images

runaround added 15:46 - Aug 10 Pre salary cap I would have preferred a younger player but with the restrictions we have this will be a more realistic option. Obviously has the talent & skills to be good enough at this level but can his body hack 90 minutes Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday
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Edmundo added 16:04 - Aug 10 We shouldn't be worrying about this salary cap: do what teams have done with ffp, stick two fingers up and if we get promoted, sod them!
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Linkboy13 added 16:39 - Aug 10 Don't think it's right to Judge a player by his age some players are still in good shape at 34 and if injury free can play on for another 2 or 3 seasons. His fitness levels will be monitored in training and if they are good he will be offered a contract. We need to be producing more good youngsters at the moment they are pretty average apart from Dobra.
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spanishblue added 16:44 - Aug 10 Seem to remember a certain John Wark returning for his umpteenth debut what was he 36 going on couldn't run but what a fantastic player did we not get promoted with ol peg leg standing in the way
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Nobbysnuts added 17:14 - Aug 10 Better sign him up quick before Robbie Williams signs him up for soccer aid.
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Murphys_Law added 18:19 - Aug 10 If the view is that Lambert has a 433 preference this season then a full back with real pace isn't needed. He will however need to know how to defend and for a single season he definitely fits the bill. If he's fit, I'd sign him up with his level of experience.
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ThaiBlue added 19:40 - Aug 10 Get him in get chambers out.solid pro who will do a good job and help the young uns,get garbutt and graham as well bit more experience and steel in the side.
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ITFCBlue81 added 19:56 - Aug 10 Why are Ipswich looking for a left back when Tommy Smith is the best left back in years and he is only 18 and he is far better then Kenlock and Clements he will save the club millions and that's what they will sell him for in the future
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planetblue_2011 added 20:38 - Aug 10 Very good player be great in league 1. Capped loads by Ireland, definitely sign him & Graham. They are both 34 but have bags of experience & can get us out of this league. With the youngsters mixed with a bit of experience it should work really well. Unfortunate if we miss out on Garbutt, then again would be really happy with signing Ward⚽️
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HalesworthBlue7 added 22:29 - Aug 10 I agree good signing , but agree still sign Garbutt and play him in front of him , should then be strong down the left. Vincent Young and Lancaster on right ,a dominant centre half beside Woolfy and push the boat out and sign promising lad from Bristol Rovers, many options in midfield . Sorted
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KiwiBlue2 added 23:38 - Aug 10 Someone to keep Chambers and Skuse company at the back of the field during squad sprinting exercises ......... but on a more serious note is very experienced and could be of assistance to our younger full-backs. Still think that a left sided cb and proven striker are the priorities.....
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Daniel72 added 01:11 - Aug 11 With the plandemic in full swing I'd forgotten how fuunny TWTD can be.. this left back sounds ok.
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Daniel72 added 01:15 - Aug 11 Can he drink?
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Razor added 10:00 - Aug 11 This is the best link I have seen for ages apart from that Bristol Rovers striker and would snap him up if fit and and available. This new salary cap thingy----it only got through by one vote and isnt it under appeal? Presumably it is not effective IMMEDIATELY and there must be a run in period----Phil can you help?
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