Ipswich ready to pounce with £1m bid for Miller

The 22-year-old, currently in Norway training with Brann Bergen, is attracting fresh interest from Portman Road - the club who rejected him as a schoolboy.

It is believed they are ready to make a near £1m offer to prize Miller from Victoria Park and hand him the chance to shine at the highest level after netting 37 goals from midfield in the last two season.

Pool's record sale stands at the £300,000 received from Chelsea in 1991 for Joe Allon.

Wigan are also primed to make a fresh move after having a £600,000 offer rejected in March last year, but Miller would relish the opportunity to make a Portman Road return.

Miller was part of the same Ipswich youth set-up as Newcastle and England star Kieron Dyer, but was allowed to leave after they believed he was too small when he was 15.

Ipswich youth coach Paul Goddard has kept tabs on Miller over the years and has convinced manager George Burley he is worth a chance to impress.

Miller this week flew to Norway to spend a fortnight training with Brann and is poised to return to the North-East to join his Pool teammates for pre-season training on July 10.

But if Ipswich lodge their interest before then with an approach to Pool chairman Ken Hodcroft, Miller will cut short his Scandinavian spell.

Miller is under contract at Victoria Park for another 12 months and while Pool are hopeful he will put pen to paper to extend his stay at the club he joined as a raw teenager, they know cashing in on Miller now is a viable option.

And that could mean manager Chris Turner being presented with a transfer kitty for a promotion assault next season.

Miller, who has enjoyed a warm reception from Brann fans, took part in his first training session yesterday, but after ruling out the chance of a permanent move he is likely to stay behind as the team head for Rosenborg and tomorrow's crunch League clash.

"I want to play in England," Miller said. "Coming to Norway to train with Brann is a great learning experience and something that can only help my game.

"But I love playing English football and that's where I see my future. It's flattering when you are linked with top clubs, but until Hartlepool accept a bid then I will just concentrate on my football.

"I want to play at the top level and go as far as I can in the game. If you don't want to do that then you shouldn't be in football.

"Every young player wants to play with the best and I am no different. I love playing for Hartlepool but I want to test myself higher than the Third Division.

"You might not get many chances in your career and if you don't try then you never know how far you will get.

"It's nice when managers and players tell you that you can play higher, but you need to prove it, to yourself first and then others. I have aspirations like everyone else and I would like to see how far I can go.''

Meanwhile, Kidderminster boss Jan Molby is stepping up his bid to land Sam Shilton.

Shilton, son of England goalkeeping legend Peter, was freed by Pool last month and Molby is hopeful of getting his man.

He admitted: "I'm surprised Sam has been released by Hartlepool.

"He is still only 22 but he has played a lot of football in Division Three and he would offer us a left-sided option.

"I know Northampton Town are chasing him and so are another club.

"But he lives in Birmingham and that could work to our advantage."

Pool have announced four Friday night games for the new football season.

They will travel to Rushden and Diamonds on October 5, to avoid a clash with England's World Cup qualifier with Greece the following day, and Turner's side travel to Swansea on November 23.

Pool will entertain Rochdale the following week on November 30 and Macclesfield will visit Victoria Park on March 22.

The home game with Hull City will stay a 3pm kick-off on Saturday, September 1, as England's World Cup qualifier in Germany doesn't kick-off until 6.30pm.

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