BLUES boss Jim Magilton is looking to secure the signature of defender Ben Thatcher today.

Derek Davis

BLUES boss Jim Magilton is looking to secure the signature of defender Ben Thatcher today.

Town agreed last week to offer free agent Thatcher the chance to play for them after impressing in three games during the pre-season trip to Belfast.

The former Millwall, Spurs, Leicester City, Manchester City and Charlton defender, has now agreed to hold personal talks and if he is happy with the offer he could sign today now that chief executive Derek Bowden is back from his holidays.

Magilton confirmed: “We are looking to sit down and hopefully thrash something out.”

Thatcher will not be the only new addition if Magilton gets his own way as he closes in on two more potential signings.

He said: “I'm still on the lookout for one or two players. The phone is getting busier now as I expect.

“Managers are looking at their squads and figuring out who will be involved and who won't be.

“We have a couple of irons in the fire and if can get those in then we will be pleased and that will see us until January.”

Magilton has confirmed that even though he is still keen on bringing in another striker, it will not be Crewe's Nicky Maynard.

Magilton has said if he signed Lisbie he would not pursue Maynard and has reaffirmed that.

He said: “It is still the case. Nicky Maynard is a very good footballer and he is someone we like but they quoted silly money which we are not going to pay.

“We have Kev now and we are delighted with him. His attitude has been first class.”

Lisbie got of to a perfect start in his first showing in a Town shirt following his £750,000 move from Layer Road, with a last gasp winner in Town's 2-1 friendly win over West Brom at Portman Road on Saturday.

Magilton said: “That first goal is always important; it gets him off to a good start. It was a very composed finish. “He is one of those players who if he can get off to a good start he will get on a roll and if we can create chances for him, half as many as Colchester seem to do last year, then we have a goal-scorer.

“He is still a couple of weeks short of fitness but is getting there.”

Honduran international Emilio Quiroz Izaguirre watched the win from the stands as red tape meant he was not allowed to take part. A decision on whether to keep him will be made this week.

Town have also been linked with South African defender Quinton Fortune and Magilton is still hoping he can bring him in on trial but is waiting to hear back from the player's representatives.

Magilton said: “Fortune very good footballer if we can get him in for a while great but it has gone quiet.”

Gary Roberts' £250,000 move to Huddersfield Town is expected to be completed this morning after the player holds talks with the Terriers who took part in a tournament in Hartlepool over the weekend.