Town manager Joe Royle has revealed that he is negotiating to take Bradford City's Ashley Ward to Portman Road on a free transfer. Royle has made no secret of his desire to bring in an attacker while Bradford are known to want Ward off their wage bill.

Royle says that the 6' 1” striker could do a job for Town having scored goals at this level before: “I'm working on it and hope to make further progress. I think that Ashley could be top class for us. He's always done well in this division."

The 31-year-old missed out at the weekend due to suspension and has recently had a knee ligament injury which he has now recovered from.

Much travelled Ward began his career in 1989 with hometown club Manchester City. After three sub appearances and a loan spell with Wrexham he moved to Leicester for £80,000 in July 1991. From there he went on loan at Blackpool before a transfer to Crewe for another £80,000 fee in December 1992.

It was at Gresty Road he really made his name and from where he moved to Norwich City in 1994 for £500,000. Two years at Carrow Road ended when Derby took him back to the top flight for £1 million. A year later he was with Barnsley (£1.3 million) where he scored 20 goals in 45 starts before joining Blackburn for £4.5 million.

Just under two years were spent at Ewood Park where he played alongside Marcus Bent and won a controversial penalty against Town as the Blues and Rovers drew 2-2 at Ewood Park in November 1999.

With Blackburn in Division One, Bradford took him back into the Premiership but once the Bantams were relegated Ward became an expensive luxury on a reported £18,000 per week. He would certainly have to take a massive pay-cut to move to Portman Road.

Since the near-meltdown in the summer the Ward has been linked with a number of clubs including First Division leaders Portsmouth. In total he has scored 125 goals in 355 senior appearances (plus 42 as sub).

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