IPSWICH have missed out on goal ace Andy Keogh for a second time after the player's £600,000 move from Scunthorpe to Wolves.Keogh, 20, is well known to Town after he was among a batch of youngsters invited to Portman Road on a regular basis while they were still at school in the Republic of Ireland.

By Mel Henderson

IPSWICH have missed out on goal ace Andy Keogh for a second time after the player's £600,000 move from Scunthorpe to Wolves.

Keogh, 20, is well known to Town after he was among a batch of youngsters invited to Portman Road on a regular basis while they were still at school in the Republic of Ireland.

And he was under review recently as boss Jim Magilton's search for a new striker saw him, chief scout Steve McCall and others run the rule over a number of contenders.

Keogh and his Iron co-striker Billy Sharp found themselves the centre of attention after their goals helped to fire the club to pole position in League One.

But yesterday's switch to Molineux, for a fee that could rise to £850,000, confirms he was beyond the budget of Town, whose search for a proven marksman continues.

Rising stars Billy Clarke, Shane Supple and Gerard Nash, who is now playing for Leiston in the Ridgeons League after his retirement due to injury, all accepted offers to join the Ipswich Academy.

But Dublin-born Keogh had several clubs chasing him, including West Ham, Coventry and Leicester, before he was eventually lured to Leeds and earned the tag 'first £1 million 15-year-old'.

That was as a result of the first professional deal that was promised by the Elland Road club and which Keogh signed at the age of 17.

Irish Under-21 cap Keogh played against Ipswich in the FA Youth Cup and made a £50,000 permanent switch to Scunthorpe two years ago after impressing during a loan spell at Glanford Park.

Despite cashing in on Keogh, who netted 24 goals in 109 appearances for the club, Scunthorpe are determined to retain the services of former Sheffield United striker Sharp, despite interest from a host of clubs.