TWTD understands Town are close to completing the signing of former QPR midfielder Dominic Ball.

The 26-year-old left Loftus Road at the end of the season having spent three years with the West Londoners and will join the Blues on a free transfer.

Ball primarily plays as a defensive midfielder but can also operate at centre-half or at right-back.

The Welwyn Garden City-born schemer was a youth player with Watford before moving on to Tottenham’s academy, where Blues boss Kieran McKenna was coaching at the time.

Ball, who is 6ft 2in tall, spent time on loan at Cambridge United and Rangers - where he won the Scottish Championship title and Scottish Cup during 2015/16 - before leaving White Hart Lane for Rotherham for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2016.

Capped by Northern Ireland at U15, U16, U17, U19 and U21 levels and England at U19 and U20, Ball spent time on loan at Peterborough and Aberdeen while with the Millers.

Last season Ball made 15 starts and eight sub appearances for the Superhoops, scoring once.

In total, he made 74 starts and 25 sub appearances while at Loftus Road, scoring three times.

Ball, who has a degree from the Open University in Business Studies, recently published a book, From Winning Teams to Broken Dreams, relating his experiences and those of five fellow young players as they sought to make a career in football.

Proceeds from the book are being donated to Sarcoma UK, a charity supporting research into the bone cancer which claimed the life of one of the youngsters, Spencer McCall, who died aged 26.

TWTD's sister QPR site LoftForWords was disappointed to see him move on with their lengthy tribute concluding: “I’m disappointed he’s been released and would have kept him on for another year as an excellent bench option on a budget.

“His attitude and commitment to the club and the cause has been exemplary, absolutely first class, since the moment he got here.

“Being a professional footballer at this level, representing a club like QPR, really matters and mattered to him.”

Ball will become Town's second signing of the summer following the addition of striker Freddie Ladapo on Monday with the deal likely to be confirmed today.

The acquisition of Ball would suggest loanee Tyreeq Bakinson won't be returning on a permanent basis.

Photo: Action Images

superblues9 added 15:31 - Jun 1 QPRbray thanks for that good read !
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runningout added 15:50 - Jun 1 of course we hope he does the business. More than sensible trying to get players in early. They can settle and get to know the fab county of Suffolk.
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yorkieblue62 added 16:00 - Jun 1 2 signings so far look better than 'has-beens' or 'maybes', especially for no fee. You can spend millions on rubbish if not careful but this does release more cash if we want to take a chance on a relatively big money buy.
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Suffolkboy added 16:09 - Jun 1 Careful, considered,constructive and confident would describe the modus operandi of KM and zoo. These signings have not just happened but fall into a well defined plan to improve and strengthen . I like the physical proportions of our new acquisitions ! Coub
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OliveR16 added 16:13 - Jun 1 The money is likely to be spent on the left side and with another striker. These two pre-window signings are to beef up the squad physically and get our act together before pre-season training. They are also being chosen for their personality and character. It is a total contrast to last year's ridiculous scattergun approach.
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grow_our_own added 16:22 - Jun 1 My QPR supporting mate says of Ball: "He's limited but very hard working and likes a tackle - would be a good captain. Got pushed out when Sam Field got fit who's a better version of him." - sounds much like Evans. And as with Evans, I don't agree a limited player should be captain.
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therein61 added 17:41 - Jun 1 Excellent signing(when done and dusted) he being versatile will be an added bonus well done Town get em in early.
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Bazza8564 added 17:52 - Jun 1 Feels very much like Bakinsons role, but would explain why we took him short term until this guy was available Strange to see people questioning him before he's kicked a ball. just remember what KM did with Woldenden Burgess and Jackson….
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TimmyH added 17:52 - Jun 1 I'm not going to say whether this is a good or bad signing as I don't know much about him (as a large percentage on here don't either) other than the stats on wiki....what I can gather is that QPR had a better last season when he started less but I'm sure there are many other reasons other than this as well. Welcome Dominic all the same. Don't forget folks we're in the silly season where a majority of our supporters think every signing will be s great one...history tells us otherwise.

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cornishnick added 18:14 - Jun 1 Doesn't necessarily mean we won't sign Bakinson. Wouldn't be surprised if El Mizouni was loaned out though.
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Cloddyseedbed added 18:40 - Jun 1 Underwelmed.
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churchmans added 18:47 - Jun 1 Solid signing????? Maybe I didn't watch the 15games he played for QPR last season that most on here did I will judge him on what I see!! Welcome to ipswich ball'y and all the best
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churchmans added 18:47 - Jun 1 Solid signing????? Maybe I didn't watch the 15games he played for QPR last season that most on here did I will judge him on what I see!! Welcome to ipswich ball'y and all the best
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ArnieM added 18:57 - Jun 1 I'd say a potentially good solid sign8mg. We need a bit of grit in the side for those winter slug games at Fleetwood, Wycombe Peterborough etc…. We have nowhere near enough “ muscle or a attitude” in the squad…this looks to be changing. As McKenna has said, it's about player profile…and we have 7sually had only one type….lightweight!
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ringwoodblue added 21:31 - Jun 1 If he gives 100% every game then he's a great signing as many of our players have not managed 50% in recent years. Welcome Dom!
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KiwiTractor added 00:08 - Jun 2 A QPR mate of mine, said Dom Ball is exactly the sort of player we need to get out of League One. So, it's a welcome from me.
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SussexTractor added 17:29 - Jun 3 Dieselmorris - fully agree. We need a few more large physical players, to deal with the more thuggish teams in league1.
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