Wanted Ward plays waiting game

Ireland defender Stephen Ward admits his club career is up in the air, although there appears to be no lack of suitors for the left-back who spent last season on loan from Wolverhampton Wanders at Brighton.

The Wolverhampton-based Express and Star newspaper reported yesterday that Brighton are hopeful of signing the player on a permanent basis after he appeared 44 times for them in their run to the Championship play-off semi-finals.

Middlesbrough have also been linked with the Dubliner while there have also been suggestions of interest from the Premier League in the form of Sunderland as well as the newly-promoted Burnley.

Ward currently has another year on his contract with Wolves, for whom he signed for £100,000 from Bohemians back in 2007.

“I’m in a bit of limbo at the minute,” he said. “I’m back at Wolves but I’ve not spoken to anybody at the club. I think they’re looking to go ahead with the squad that got them promoted [from League One] so we’ll see what happens in the summer.

“It’s nice to be here playing [for Ireland],” said the 28-year-old who has played all bar 26 minutes of Martin O’Neill’s first four games in charge of the national team. “I’ll look at that when I get my legs up after this.”