Page 7 - Dan Harding News Today

TWTD understands that Reading have offered released Town full-back Dan Harding a permanent contract. Harding spent the second half of the season on loan with the Royals, having been with Southend on a similar basis in the opening few months of 2008/09.

Town have announced that Matt Richards has become the eighth out of contract player to be released this summer. The full-back or midfielder has spent much of the last two years on loan at Brighton.

Out-of-contract defender Alex Bruce will hold talks with manager Roy Keane regarding his future later this week. The 24-year-old was offered a new two-year deal in January but turned it down.

On-loan Town midfielder Jai Reason is off to Wembley for the Blue Square Premier play-off final with Cambridge United. The Us overcame a 3-1 deficit from the first leg of their semi-final to beat Stevenage 4-3 on aggregate after extra-time at the Abbey Stadium.

Town boss Mick McCarthy says it’s important for the Blues to sign off their home campaign with a good performance and result against the already-relegated MK Dons, admitting that Town have been under par at Portman Road during 2015/16.

Striker Shefki Kuqi and midfielder Velice Sumulikoski are back in the Town party travelling to Preston for Saturdays crunch penultimate game of the season. The duo are likely to be amongst the subs at Deepdale as the Blues chase their fourth away win of 2007/08.

Town have confirmed that out-of-favour ful-back or midfielder Matt Richards is back in the squad for Saturdays trip to Cardiff.

On-loan duo Billy Clarke and Liam Trotter say their futures are up in the air now that Roy Keane has taken over as Town boss from Jim Magilton. The out-of-contract pair are currently spending the last few weeks of the season at Brentford and Scunthorpe respectively.

A late Danny Haynes penalty won Town a 2-1 victory over Derby in a pulsating game at Portman Road. Matt Oakley put the Rams ahead prior to the dismissals of Alex Bruce and Derby keeper Stephen Bywater, but Town were on top throughout and Franny Jeffers equalised before Hayness late spotkick.

Harvey's cousin Zak, who is receiving treatment at Alder Hey, joined him on the walk.