Bristol City are in the market for long-serving Bolton Wanderers defender Nicky Hunt. Out of favour at the Reebok Stadium and surplus to requirements, the 26-year-old Lancastrian is available on a free transfer. City have already expressed an interest in the former England Under-21 international and he tops manager Steve Coppell's list of potential replacements for wantaway right-back Bradley Orr, who is expected to join Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers tomorrow. Hunt is desperate to revive a career which has stalled at the Reebok and is prepared to drop down to the Championship in his search for regular first-team football.
Bristol Evening Post
Bristol City are planning a late move to steal Ibrahima Sonko from under the noses of Portsmouth. Portsmouth have agreed a season-long loan deal with Stoke for the giant defender, but the move was held up as the Championship club waited for the Football League to lift their transfer embargo. Bristol City have joined the race for Sonko's signature and are understood to have agreed a similar season-long loan deal with Stoke.
Sky Sports
Jon Stead is leaving Ipswich to join Bristol City in a £225,000 deal. Robins boss Steve Coppell said: "We need new players."
The Sun
Aware that all is not well, acting captain Cole Skuse sought to assure worried supporters that Bristol City will "hit the ground running" when the new npower Championship season kicks-off next week. The Robins have won only once in six pre-season outings and need to find significant improvement before the serious business starts against newly-promoted Millwall at Ashton Gate on Saturday week. Leading the side in the absence of skipper Louis Carey, Skuse admitted City were "off the pace" in last week's friendly fixtures against Torquay United and Aldershot Town. Although Steve Coppell's side showed more encouraging signs against Exeter at St James Park last night, they again proved fallible in defence and profligate in attack. Former City player Ryan Harley scored twice before half-time and, although John Akinde pulled a goal back on the hour, Daniel Nardiello restored the Grecians' two-goal advantage to consign City to a fourth defeat in pre-season. Skuse promised: "We will be firing on all cylinders by the time the first Championship game comes around. I can assure the fans we will be ready and they will see a much better performance when we play Millwall."
Bristol Evening Post
Doncaster Rovers striker Steve Brooker is set to make his home debut in tonight's pre-season game against West Bromwich Albion at the Keepmoat Stadium. "I can't wait," said the 28 year-old forward who has yet to play a competitive game for Rovers since joining Rovers from Bristol City over 18 months ago.
Sheffield Star
Les Parry is ready to fill a key vacancy in his Tranmere squad by agreeing a deal with powerful striker Enoch Showunmi. The six-foot-five target man is expected to sign today after completing a medical. Showunmi, 28, who boasts more than 200 appearances for Luton Town, Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United, became a free agent this summer after being released by Falkirk.
Wirral News
Former Bristol City midfielder Scott Brown has been offered the chance to train at Grimsby Town.
Grimsby Telegraph
