Town are close to signing veteran centre-half Richard Keogh from Blackpool.

We understand the deal to sign Keogh, who is 36 on Thursday and who will come into the squad as experienced cover, is not yet completed but should be done today ahead of this evening's game against Colchester. The former Republic of Ireland international, who is at the club this morning, will sign a one-year contract.

Essex-born Keogh was at Playford Road as an academy player and was a ballboy before being released and moving on to Stoke City’s youth set-up in 2003.

He spent a spell with Icelandic side Vikingur on loan and having failed to break into the first team with the Potters moved on to Bristol City in 2005.

Loan stints with Wycombe, Huddersfield, Carlisle and Cheltenham followed before he joined the Cumbrians on a permanent basis in 2008.

Two years with Coventry followed from 2010 before a seven-year spell with Derby County, where he was skipper and played alongside Blues first-team coach Lee Grant, which ended acrimoniously when he was sacked following the car crash which led to former Blues loanee Tom Lawrence being found guilty of drink-driving.

Keogh, who suffered a knee injury in the accident which sidelined him for 15 months, eventually won an employment tribunal which deemed that he had been unfairly dismissed and Derby were ordered to pay £2.3 million in compensation.

TWTD revealed that Keogh, who was capped 26 times by the Republic of Ireland, scoring once, was interesting the Blues in the summer of 2020 after his Rams exit but he eventually joined the MK Dons.

After six months he moved on to Huddersfield and then last summer to Blackpool with whom he made 28 starts and three sub appearances in 2021/22. He has missed both the Seasiders' opening fixtures with a groin injury, suffered in a pre-season friendly against Everton.

We understand the move is a deal the Blues have been working on for a while - it's believe two offers were turned down - with Keogh set to come in in purely a playing role with no involvement in coaching despite speculation along those lines.

Keogh's signing would mean Town would have five senior centre-halves, adding to Janoi Donacien, George Edmundson, Luke Woolfenden and Cameron Burgess with youngster Corrie Ndaba also part of the squad, although now free to make a move out on loan.

Photo: Action Images

miltonsnephew added 16:43 - Aug 9 Didn't realise he was with us at youth level?! I think he'll be great very experienced and would be good from set pieces.
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braveblue added 17:12 - Aug 9 Strange. If he doesn't get any game time how match fit will he be if we need him. Don't get this one but they have not got much wrong so far.
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WorcesterBlue added 17:37 - Aug 9 No need for this. Better off getting another proper Centre forward.
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pg888 added 17:42 - Aug 9 Shame for him Norwood left and he won't get a lift home from the pub!
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cressi added 17:45 - Aug 9 Some people here Calling him past it over the hill This bloke is good player look beyond his age 700 plus games He will be pivotal to ur success people wishing to play Davis at centre half he has to get up to speed in his own position first out wide u can make mistakes centre backs are punished like a keeper
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leftie1972 added 17:53 - Aug 9 And injured! Don't get this at all.
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Tufty added 18:12 - Aug 9 Possibly the most ridiculous signing ever. Don't see the point. Didn't he pass the ball to Bobby Zamora in to he play off final.
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Nomore4 added 18:30 - Aug 9 A decent player 10 years ago…..cant think of any player un McK like, apart from maybe Wickham…..will be the strangest signing since Douglas and Coke rode into Town.
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BromleyBloo added 18:51 - Aug 9 This shows long-term planning and contingency for any injuries this season, assuming Ndaba now goes out on loan. Think he's seriously high potential for the future, but trust McK judgement on this, as with Baggot, although when is good enough, young enough??? Don, Edm, Woolfy, Cameron and Keogh should be sufficient, with the latter also passing on he's exp and knowledge to others, but really rate Baggott and Ndaba for the future, so let's give them the right opportunities to shine and develop - difficult, but when is the right time??? COYBs!!!

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Dissboyitfc added 19:11 - Aug 9 Blueboy... you make some valid points, and some very good points but my point is there are some and i include you in this who have nothing good to say about the club! Keep a balanced argument because there are some good things happening! Of course, McK should know more and better than any of us -and yes he does! And the window isn't closed yet, still time for that signing of a striker! One thing i love about the club is quite often the first we hear of a signing is when its accompanied with a photo! We can be sure of one thing here, the club will be working to get that signing done before the window closes. We have strict wage parameters to work within and i for one am glad we didn't sign anyone who would have taken most of the budget preventing us from signing anyone else! For me, i know he was a cook signing but Aluko has been a really good signing, love watching him play, how many were excited by his signing? So lets give players a chance and trust in the process being put in place by the manager and the club!

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reescurtis added 21:50 - Aug 9 Odd signing tbh but if it gives our younger CBs a chance on loan makes sense , but would rather a another striker be looked at hopefully 🙏
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1Warky added 22:13 - Aug 9 God help us!
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multiplescoregasms added 22:40 - Aug 9 This is batsh*t crazy. Sorry, but I don't see him ever playing a game, unless it's in one of the Cup that our club and yet another manager, don't seem to give 2 sh1ts about. .......oh hang on, we are out of 1 already. Well done.
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