Boss Jim Magilton hopes that Town's friendly with Galway United on July 12th will help the club to forge even better links in Ireland. The former Northern Ireland captain is a long-time friend of Tribesmen manager Tony Cousins.

The Blues already have an extensive scouting network in Ireland with in the 2005 Youth Cup-winning squad including Shane Supple, Owen Garvan, Michael Synnott, Billy Clarke and Cathal Lordan (now with Cork City) from the Republic and Chris Casement from north of the border.

Despite this, Magilton told the club site that more progress can be made: "Ireland is a hotbed of football and we need to tap into that.

"Reading found a gem in Kevin Doyle last season. They brought him in from Cork and he played a major part in them winning promotion to the Premiership.

"Galway have a terrific set-up down there and playing a friendly there will help us forge links with that part of Ireland.

"We need to build bridges because if there is another Kevin Doyle out there, I want Ipswich Town to be finding him."

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