Roy eyeing up move for Delaney

IPSWICH Town manager Roy Keane is eyeing fellow countryman Damien Delaney as his first signing.

Elvin King

IPSWICH Town manager Roy Keane is eyeing fellow countryman Damien Delaney as his first signing.

The left-back, or central defender, would cost around half a million pounds with his current club Queens Park Rangers looking to recoup most of the �600,000 they paid Hull for his services 18 months ago.

Born in Keane's home town of Cork, Delaney is a full Republic of Ireland international and he was with Blues coach Tony Loughlan at Leicester before his move to Humberside.

Delaney was a regular at Loftus Road under manager Luigi De Canio, but became an increasingly forgotten figure when first Iain Dowie and then Paulo Sousa took over the QPR hot seat.

Delaney lost his place to Matt Connolly in the closing weeks of the season but returned for the final day defeat at Preston.

With Dan Harding and Matt Richards having been released by Keane, Ben Thatcher is the only left-sided defender currently in the Ipswich squad.

Keane is targeting this area to strengthen and the 27-year-old who was a successful Gaelic footballer in his younger days could fit the bill.

Delaney, who played with Jon Walters while with Hull, made his international debut against Serbia 12 months ago. He made one further appearance - soon afterwards - against Colombia.

When Hull won promotion to League Two in 2003/04, Delaney played as a central defender and won the player of the year award, scoring the last goal at Boothferry Park before the move to the KC Stadium.

Delaney's contract at Loftus Road runs to the summer of 2011 although they are prepared to sell him if the price is right.

He failed to earn rave reports last season but still chalked up 42 appearances and in total made 59 appearances and scored three goals for Rangers.