Premiership: Hamilton rejoins Ipswich

Ipswich Town have appointed former Northern Ireland and Norwich boss Bryan Hamilton as joint first-team coach.

Chairman David Sheepshanks and manager George Burley will host a press conference at 1500 today to welcome Hamilton back to the club he served as both player and coach.

Burley said: ‘‘I felt it was important that we brought a coach of Bryan’s high calibre and experience into our coaching staff.

‘‘Bryan will work closely with myself and Tony Mowbray and together I am confident we will make a formidable coaching team to assist us in our battle to climb up the Premiership table.’’

Hamilton took charge at Norwich in April 2000, stepping into the manager’s job from his role as director of football following Bruce Rioch’s departure.

But after a run of poor form which saw the Canaries struggle near the relegation zone in Division One, Hamilton resigned in December.

Another possible new face at Portman Road is Marcus Bent, who was today involved in talks with Ipswich over personal terms after Town agreed a fee to sign the striker from Blackburn.

Bent, 23, is set to cost up between £2m and £3m as Ipswich look to ease their striker shortage following injuries to Marcus Stewart, Finidi George and Ulrich le Pen.

The striker travelled down to Suffolk last night to watch Ipswich’s UEFA Cup third round, first leg tie against Inter Milan, which they won 1-0.

The club’s official website confirmed: ‘‘Ipswich Town Football Club have agreed a fee with Blackburn Rovers for 23-year-old Marcus Bent. He will be discussing personal terms on Friday morning.’’

Bent has failed to make any real impression at Blackburn following his £2.1m move to Ewood Park in November last year after scoring 24 goals in 56 starts at Sheffield United.

At Rovers, he has scored just 11 goals in 27 starts and 17 substitute appearances, and has started only one game this season in a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland.

He has also failed to score so far this season in nine substitute appearances as well as that one start, and was sent off against Oldham in the Worthington Cup.

Burley has nevertheless been keeping an eye on the striker, who started his career at Brentford and Crystal Palace, for some time and is hoping to register him in time to be available for selection at Middlesbrough on Sunday.