Carlton deny claims they signed Irish players

AUSTRALIAN Rules side Carlton have refuted claims that they have signed four Irish players, but football operations manager Steven Icke has confirmed that the Blues have offered Cork defender Michael Shields the opportunity to join the club for a trial during pre-season.

“We haven’t signed anyone,” Icke says. “All we’ve done with Michael Shields is offer him the opportunity to come to Carlton and do a pre-season training camp. If he likes what he sees and we like what we see, we may be in a position to offer him a contract.”

Icke, who arrived in Dublin late on Tuesday night, says he hasn’t even met Shields: “I haven’t had any indication from Michael as to whether he’ll accept our offer.”