Town are understood to be eyeing free agent former Reading keeper Luke Southwood, who spent last season on loan with Cheltenham in League One.

The 25-year-old spent the whole of 2022/23 with the Robins playing every league game and a further five in cup competitions.

Northern Ireland international Southwood came through the Royals’ academy and made 30 starts for the Berkshire club prior to being let go at the end of the season following their relegation from the Championship.

Now, according to Jon Palmer, GloucestershireLive's Cheltenham reporter, Town are showing significant interest in Southwood. Other clubs at Championship and League One levels are also likely to be keen.

Southwood’s spell with Cheltenham was the latest of four loans, the keeper having previously spent stints at Bath City, Eastleigh and Hamilton Academical in Scotland.

Oxford-born Southwood,who is 6ft tall, was capped by England at U19 and U20 levels before switching allegiance to Northern Ireland, for whom he qualifies via a grandmother, making his first and so-far only international appearance as a half-time sub in the 3-1 victory in Luxembourg in March last year.

Town could well be in the market for another keeper this summer with second-choice Vaclav Hladky having been linked with moves in previous windows.

At 32, the Czech may be on the lookout for a club where he can play more regularly than he has since moving to Portman Road in the summer of 2021.

Last season, Hladky made one league appearance, off the bench in the promotion-confirming 6-0 home victory over Exeter City.

Photo: Matchday Images

WhoisJimmyJuan added 18:37 - Jun 24 Good move if Hladky moves on I'd say, as back up for CW. I would imagine Southwood might want to be no. 1 somewhere after last season maybe.
1

PositivelyPortman added 19:08 - Jun 24 A little too short for a keeper at only 6ft tall imo.
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Tractor_Boy_Tommy added 19:37 - Jun 24 Good replacement for Hladky
1

Bazza8564 added 19:57 - Jun 24 Sounds ideal especially if we can get a fee for Hladky
1

blues1 added 20:34 - Jun 24 Positively portman. Paul Cooper was only 5ft10. Laurie sivell 5ft8. Dontcthink 6ftcis too short at all. Plenty of keepers about 6ft or just under
17

churchmans added 22:26 - Jun 24 Does not feel like a back up but real competition for the no1 spot!
0

chepstowblue added 22:36 - Jun 24 A definite no from me. Looked very small in stature at Cheltenham in April and was a complete ass throughout the game. Ridiculous time wasting, and Im not sure how people could welcome with open arms someone who suffered such vitriol at the hands of our own fans. 99.9% of football fans forget.....I don't. Very substandard considering where we are supposed to be aiming.

-3

Juggsy added 23:14 - Jun 24 Bit harsh there chepstowblue. All part of the game for keepers, shows he wants to win. Walton does it often enough.
5

PortmanTerrorist added 23:28 - Jun 24 Yawn. Just let us know when the real transfer action happens!
4

algarvefan added 23:54 - Jun 24 Think we should do all we can to keep Hladky, he's a damn good keeper.
2

PhuketPete added 02:10 - Jun 25 I think Hladky was a real positive surprise when we finally saw him play last year - he had obviously improved enormously working with the GK coaches and CW. But he's 32 and has to crave first team football..?? Assuming we keep CW I'd love to keep Hladky as #2 but I can't see it. He's good enough to be a first choice in L1 If not in the Championship. Does he really want to be #2 for rest of career? As to who if anyone else we sign as a GK, I'm happy with whoever KM wants including Southwood. He was just doing his job at Cheltenham.

5

blues1 added 08:21 - Jun 25 Chepstowblue. What a ridiculous comment. So he wasted time against us. Of course he did. Its what teams such as cheltenham did against us. He'd have been told to do that by his manager. To suggest he souldnt be welcomed by our fans bxse of what he's done against us, makes no sense at all. He'd be wearing the ipswich shirt. So would be welcomed by any fan with any common sense.

5

johnwarksshorts added 08:58 - Jun 25 PositivelyPortman....you must be too young to remember Laurie Sivell?
2

ArnieM added 08:59 - Jun 25 There'll come a time where we sign another GK who won't be considered as back up to Walton…….
3

Billericay12 added 09:38 - Jun 25 6ft is a little short for a keeper these days . I do remember Sivell and Cooper but the game has evolved and the modern day keeper ideal would be 6ft 2”+, technically good with both feet and able to distribute the ball 60-70 yards with accuracy. Christian Walton didn't tick all those boxes initially but they improved him hugely with his distribution and he has the stature that gives you confidence when the ball is pumped into the box. Smaller keepers aren't always able to command their box as well in my opinion.

0

BobbyBell added 10:51 - Jun 25 Billericay12. Yes the game has changed so now we have fewer high balls into the box and much more demand for keepers with good footwork. Touching the ball around a post or over the bar is more about being in the right position than having extra reach. Also with the modern swerving balls you could be 6ft 10 and they would still bend it round you. For me a keepers height is not that big an issue, positioning, reading the game, sharp reflexes, good passing skills and the speed to play as a sweeper are more suited to the modern game. Maybe the sight of a big keeper can have an impact on the opposition but that's only a maybe.

0

Nomore4 added 11:49 - Jun 25 There is only one keeper from last years L1 teams who would be more than worth bringing in. Unfortunately contracted to Plymouth, so would come with cost. As good with the ball as anyone. The type keeper who could play centre back also. Which Walton certainly couldn't.
0

runningout added 12:06 - Jun 25 We need genuine ready competition for Walton not a prospect
1

tractorboybig added 13:13 - Jun 25 both our keepers are ok and he will not want to be number 3......;more important signings needed unless walton moving on.
0

JewellintheTown added 10:14 - Jun 26 PositivelyPortman. We need to be looking for a keeper that's around 8ft tall by 24ft wide then to fill the goal.
1

tempzzzz added 13:20 - Jun 26 PositivelyPortman - Holy was tall, enough said
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