Town boss Jim Magilton has confirmed that the Blues are close to signing Tommy Miller and Neil Alexander. The duo will join on free transfers after leaving Sunderland and Cardiff respectively at the end of last season.

Magilton told the club site: "We have agreed terms with Neil and he will be having a medical at Portman Road today. Tommy is also with us and will have a medical as well."

Alexander, 29, turned down the offer of a new deal at Ninian Park and left the Bluebirds after six years.

The Edinburgh-born keeper made 233 starts and one sub appearance for Cardiff, having joined them in 2001 from Livingston for £200,000. Capped three times by Scotland, Alexander made 75 appearances while at Almondvale, having moved from his first club Stenhousemuir on a free transfer in 1998 after two years and 45 appearances for the Ochilview Park club.

Alexander was first linked with the Blues in May but at the time it appeared that Town were close to signing Richard Wright. TWTD reported that boss Jim Magilton had turned his attention back to the 6ft 1in tall glovesman a week ago, after Wright opted to join West Ham.

Magilton has long been targeting an experienced keeper and last season took Jaroslav Drobný on a short-term deal and Mike Pollitt on loan.

TWTD first linked Miller with a return to the Blues late in Joe Royle's reign as manager in May 2006. Jim Magilton continued to target his former team-mate once he took over as boss, with a loan move breaking down last November.

The former Hartlepool man moved to Preston on a short-term basis instead, where he made four starts and three sub appearances. Miller, who was a schoolboy with Town before being released as a 15-year-old, was released by Sunderland at the end of the season having had virtually no involvement after Roy Keane took over as manager.

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