Stead makes loan move

Stead: Loan switch

Ipswich striker Jon Stead has had a change of heart and decided to join Championship rivals Coventry on loan.

Sky Blues manager Chris Coleman had identified Stead as a target at the end of last week and sought permission from Roy Keane to hold talks.

Keane was happy for discussions to begin, but announced on Monday morning that Stead had trained as normal with the Tractor Boys and would not be moving.

But the former Huddersfield, Blackburn, Sunderland and Sheffield United forward, whose wife is due to give birth, has elected to join the Ricoh Arena outfit until the end of the season with a view to a permanent deal.

Attributes

Stead, who has slipped down the pecking order under Keane, could now make his debut for his new club in Wednesday's testing trip to Newcastle.

Coleman told Coventry's official website: "We've tried a couple of times to get Jon. He has all the attributes to be a very good player for Coventry City and we have worked really hard to get him here.

"We have agreed terms with Jon and it will initially be a loan deal but we will look to make it permanent in the summer because we would like Jon to be here long term.

"Hopefully it's further evidence of what we are trying to achieve and will be another exciting signing for our supporters."