Boss Joe Royle is expecting a number of trialists to arrive at Portman Road over the next few days as he looks to bring in cover for Jay McEveley and Sam Parkin during the January transfer window. Royle is also hopeful that come the funds may be in place to make Gavin Williams a permanent signing.

Royle says: "We're short-listing people, front players and left-backs. We will have a number of trialists coming in over the next 10 days, we're still waiting for confirmation from a number of places. They will mostly come from overseas; Portugal, Finland and Norway."

Williams has impressed since joining on loan last month and the two clubs have talked about a longer-term move for the Wales international: "West Ham have given us a price guide, but we'll have to wait and see. There would need to be a change in finance for us to do so."

Royle says that the financial rescheduling announced at last week's AGM and the FA Cup draw at home to Premier League Portsmouth could both make a significant contribution to the signing: "[The rescheduling] would help and is very much in the back of our minds. The chairman is trying to do that and feels he is close enough to mention it at the AGM. A lot would depend on that.

"You're right to consider the FA Cup draw. Every little bit helps. The revenue from that will go into the players budget, the football budget rather than the actual running of the club."

West Ham paid Yeovil £250,000 for Williams in December last year and the Hammers are likely to want a similar fee for the Merthyr Tydfil-born midfield player. Williams, 25, has said on a number of occasions that he is keen to stay at Portman Road.

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