City target another Bellshill boy

Norwich City boss Peter Grant is tracking Rotherham playmaker Martin Woods. The Canaries' chief is believed to have expressed an interest in the 21-year-old Scottish midfielder who reportedly has an escape clause in his current Millmoor contract following United's League One relegation.

Norwich City boss Peter Grant is tracking Rotherham playmaker Martin Woods.

The Canaries' chief is believed to have expressed an interest in the 21-year-old Scottish midfielder who reportedly has an escape clause in his current Millmoor contract following United's League One relegation.

Championship new boys Scunthorpe have already made an approach for the former Leeds trainee who is out of contract next summer. Woods has also been linked with Sheffield Wednesday and a potential reunion with Mick McCarthy at Wolves after working under the ex-Republic of Ireland boss at Sunderland.

The Millers' player-of-the-season earned rave reviews operating in a wide left role during his debut campaign in south Yorkshire. Woods notched four goals in 36 league appearances having establishing himself as a first team regular following the £1.2m New Year departures of Will Hoskins and Lee Williamson to Watford.

“It's all about next season for me now,” admitted Woods. “I'm talking to the chairman and we'll have a chat with him to see where we go from here. I am just absolutely gutted to get relegated. It's hard to take. We put everything into the year and it wasn't good enough. We knew, because of the points penalty, that we had to do something special, but it was still a big disappointment that we didn't manage to pull it off.”

City fostered strong links with the Millers last season. Canaries' stalwart Craig Fleming joined Rotherham on a free transfer during the New Year window. Grant also loaned out youngsters Rossi Jarvis and the recently released Ian Henderson.

United boss and ex-Canary striker Mark Robins admitted he is unlikely to have the finances to secure the 22-year-old striker on a permanent deal. Robins must slash his playing squad following Rotherham's slide into the fourth tier of English football.

“We are sitting down with all the players, but we have to cut our cloth accordingly,” he said. “There's a big rebuilding job here. I've spoken to the player and he enjoyed his time. It's not necessarily closed, but we've got other irons in the fire and we are pursuing those.”

Robins has already released a trio of first teamers, with another four regulars out of contract this summer set to be shown the exit.

Meanwhile, Grant faces stiff competition to land Plymouth midfield target Tony Capaldi. Championship rivals Wolves have reportedly offered the versatile Northern Ireland international a lucrative escape route back to his Midlands base.

Capaldi has confirmed he will leave Home Park when his current contract expires on June 30.