ONE of the longest trials in football history will end today after Ipswich Town and Cork City agreed a deal for George O'Callaghan.The clubs reached a verbal agreement last night and once written confirmation has been received for the accepted bid, believed to be in the region of £60,000, Town will hold personal talks with the 27-year-old.

By Derek Davis

ONE of the longest trials in football history will end today after Ipswich Town and Cork City agreed a deal for George O'Callaghan.

The clubs reached a verbal agreement last night and once written confirmation has been received for the accepted bid, believed to be in the region of £60,000, Town will hold personal talks with the 27-year-old.

There will be relief all round when the deal is completed as O'Callaghan has been at Portman Road since September and is fully

integrated into the squad.

He has played in a couple of behind-closed-doors games and has been training with the first team squad.

One player even joked that O'Callaghan could be the first trialist in history to get a testimonial.

As a free-scoring attacking midfielder, who can play off the main forward or as a second striker, O'Callaghan is capable of getting goals.

A deal was struck when the Blues went back to Cork with a slightly improved offer, which was accepted. Dunfermline, Hibs and Sunderland were all waiting in the wings if the deal fell through

He scored 11 goals for Cork City when they won the Irish league in 2005 and he was named the PFAI League Player of the Year.

The former Port Vale young player of the year will not be eligible for tonight's FA Cup replay against Chester City but if there are no hitches over his terms he could be involved against Colchester United at home on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Ian Miller has been recalled from Boston United after a broken foot ruled skipper Jason De Vos out of action for at least six weeks.