BLUES boss Joe Royle last night admitted he may be thwarted in his bid to sign Gavin Williams on a permanent basis, but will look to extend his loan period even further.

By Derek Davis

BLUES boss Joe Royle last night admitted he may be thwarted in his bid to sign Gavin Williams on a permanent basis, but will look to extend his loan period even further.

Williams told the EADT last month that he would love to stay at Portman Road after his loan period expired and has since been handed another 30 days, taking him into the middle of January.

But Royle does not hold out much hope of keeping him beyond that date unless the club's financial situation improves dramatically.

The Blues were hoping that a deal could be struck where the West Ham took Dean Bowditch and paid Town cash plus two players, but Alan Pardew appears to have cooled his interest in the forward.

Royle said last night: “It looks unlikely that we will be able to sign Gavin on a permanent basis although hopefully we can extend his loan in January.

“I have been totally delighted with Gavin and what he has brought us. He is an Ipswich -type player who is talented and very fit, who gets around the pitch. We have not had a genuine right-sided player since Jermaine Wright.”

Royle also ruled out the possibility of Town signing either of the two New England Resolution players who Paul Mariner brought over to train with the squad.

Royle said: “They were only ever going to train with us as it is out of season for them in America right now. There is no chance that we will be looking to sign either of them. One is a midfielder and the other a central defender and neither position is a priority for us right now. We are looking for players to stand in for the long-term casualties.”

Town will look to secure a striker and a left-back during the January transfer window.

They will be without Kevin Horlock on Saturday against QPR as he is being given time to rest a swollen knee with a congested festive fixture programme looming.

Ian Westlake and Owen Garvan will be given the once-over today in training to ensure their fitness, while Nicky Forster continues to be assessed.

Although Norwegian midfielder Vemund Brekke-Skard returns to Ipswich today after his groin operation, he can't play until January 1.