Ireland set for return?

29-year-old Ireland has played for three different clubs since leaving the Magpies' two years ago, but could now be set for a return to the club he joined from Dundee in 2001.

After being released by then-manager Billy Dearden in 2003 largely due to financial contraints, the giant defender was picked-up by Barnsley, who were then managed by none other then new Notts boss Gudjon Thordarson.

Thordarson was such a big admirer of Ireland's abilities that he made the Scot his captain during his brief stint at Oakwell. And, although Ireland was eventually shown the exit door by Gudjon's successor, Paul Hart - who was appointed academy director at Leeds Utd for the second time yesterday - Thordarson remains a keen admirer of Ireland's.

"He is a player I have a lot of time for," Thordarson told the NEP. "He did a very good job for me at Barnsley.

"When he first came he was not as fit as I would have liked. But, by the time we had worked with him for a little while, that was not a problem at all. He is more than capable of doing a very good job at this level.

"People criticised him for a supposed lack of pace, but I only remember one occasion when our defence was caught out for pace that season - and Craig was not the only player at fault."

And with Ireland's contract at the Posh being terminated by mutual consent with a year to run, it appears he has a move to a club lined-up. Whether that club is Notts, only time will tell.

Ireland was a regular during his two and a quarter seasons at the Magpies, after being signed by then-manager Jocky Scott after an initial succesful loan period.

He made a total of 83 appearences, with his tremendous aerial ability contrasting with a painful lack of pace.

This season, the defender enjoyed a succesful loan spell at Bristol City but was unable to sign for the Ashton Gate due to then-Peterborough boss Barry Fry demanding a fee for his man.

However, new Posh boss Mark Wright was happy to let the Scot go, paving the way for a possible return to Meadow Lane.

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