TWTD understands Town are in talks with former Republic of Ireland international left-back Stephen Ward about joining the club.

The 34-year-old free agent appears to have impressed the Blues management since starting training at Playford Road on Monday having left Stoke City at the end of 2019/20. If a deal is agreed, Ward will become Town’s first senior addition of the summer.

Ward started his career with hometown club Bohemians before joining Wolves, at the time 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.

Given Town’s limited scope for additions within the salary cap, Ward signing would end the Blues’ interest in bringing former loanee Luke Garbutt back to Portman Road on a permanent basis.

Photo: Action Images

smithy0981 added 16:04 - Aug 13 Anything has to be better than kenlock. Not bad going forward but his positioning when defending is woeful
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delias_cheesy_flaps added 16:31 - Aug 13 This typifies just how far we've sunk as a CLUB
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Len_Brennan added 16:55 - Aug 13 @delia's - what typifies how far we have sunk as a club? The potential signing of a full back that was playing in the top tier of English football 2 seasons ago & who has won plenty of international caps? Finishing 11th in the third tier, when the competition was pretty poor even by League 1 standards, shows how far we've fallen, but the signing of a player like Stephen Ward would be a positive development in my book, even at 34.

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ThaiBlue added 18:49 - Aug 13 Will be a very useful addition,left back or centre back,get chambers out of the back 4.bet ward will score a few goals two,got a powerfull left peg.
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therein61 added 18:53 - Aug 13 He could prove to be a solid signing his experience will counter for any lack of pace in div1, we need to get out of this division this year(keeping this squad together) or we will lose our young assets and be stuck where we are and no hope of progression.
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oldegold added 19:05 - Aug 13 Didn't he turn us down about 10 years ago, when he was probs at the peak of his career..or am I getting confused with another Ward ?
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ringwoodblue added 19:13 - Aug 13 As Garbutt obviously ain't coming to Town, this could be a good stop-gap signing and add some much needed experience and leadership. Can't be worse than Kenlock so sign him up quick.
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runaround added 00:31 - Aug 14 Very decent player in his day & probably far too good for this division. Yes he is right at the end of his career but as long as he can stay fit will be a massive upgrade on our current leftback option
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