IPSWICH Town manager Roy Keane today insisted he will be taking no chances with the players he plans to bring into Portman Road over the next two weeks.

Elvin King

IPSWICH Town manager Roy Keane today insisted he will be taking no chances with the players he plans to bring into Portman Road over the next two weeks.

Keane has confirmed that he has four players in his sights, and he would prefer to have them in place before the trip to Northern Ireland to play Finn Harps on July 7.

Despite keeping close tabs on the Confederations Cup in South Africa and the European Under-21 championships in Sweden he is pursuing players closer to home.

“It is important to know about a player's personality and their character,” said Keane.

“I am majoring on those I have played with or against, and those I have managed and seen in opposition from the dug-out.

“We have some talented players here already and I have already confirmed that they will all get a pre-season chance to shine.

“But we need a bit more to have a chance of getting out of the Championship.”

Keane's tried and trusted approach has already seen him linked with former team mates at Manchester United and Celtic and those he managed at the Stadium of Light when in charge of the Black Cats for two-and-a-half years until last December.

QPR full back Damien Delaney and defender Joe Mattock (Leicester City) are known by Town coach Tony Loughan from their time with the Foxes while Danny Simpson is set to leave Manchester United after being on loan at Portman Road last year.

Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley is also in the equation along with Sunderland players who their new manager Steve Bruce may see as superfluous like midfielders Carlos Edwards, Dean Whitehead and Jordan Henderson and strikers Daryl Murphy and David Healy.

Keane's first signings are expected next week with his players reporting back for pre-season training on Thursday, July 2.

Shane Supple is set to sign a new Blues contract before his current one runs out next Tuesday and Liam Trotter has until then to decide whether to accept the offer of a new Town deal or move on a free transfer - with compensation - to fellow Championship side Scunthorpe.

Town's reserves matches will all be scheduled for Portman Road on Wednesdays, kicking off at 2pm next season. The Cobbold Stand's D Block will be open with access via the Centre Spot entrance.

Chris Kiwomya's side will again take part in the Combination East Division and the Suffolk Premier Cup.