SCUNTHORPE are set to win the race for Rory McArdle as Billy Clarke completed his City exit.

Clarke tonight clinched his move to Charlton on a two-year deal.

It is believed the Bantams have received a sizeable fee for the Irishman, who had one more season to run on his present contract, of around the six-figure mark.

McArdle is expected to follow him out the door with a move to Glanford Park once he returns from holiday.

Peterborough, Southend and Millwall have all expressed an interest in the centre half but Scunthorpe are firm favourites.

City had hoped to keep him but the T&A understands Scunthorpe have offered the 30-year-old a deal that will double what he was on last season.

Iron boss Graham Alexander confirmed that McArdle "ticked a lot of boxes" after the pair held talks before the defender flew off to Cuba.

"He does have other options but he's seen the potential in what we've got here and has obviously played against us as well on numerous occasions," Alexander told BBC Radio Humberside.

"We tick a lot of boxes for Rory and he certainly does for us.

"There's competition for all good players out there. Players of Rory's proven quality, you certainly have to go and speak to him and try to get him on board.

"I don't think either of us saw any problems on the football side of it, only positives. It's down to the deal getting done."

Clarke has been on Charlton's watch list for several weeks and will be their first summer capture. Boss Karl Robinson had targeted a number of forwards as he looks to revamp his squad at the Valley following a disappointing campaign.

In three years with City, Clarke has scored 25 times in 122 appearances but missed large chunks of the past two seasons through injury. Three of his goals came in games against MK Dons when Robinson was their manager.

Robinson wants Charlton to adopt a more possession-based approach and sees Clarke as the ideal fit for the number ten role behind a pacy frontman.

Charlton are still hoping to add Mark Marshall to their squad as the out-of-contract winger considers his options.

Sources close to the player have said he is looking for a decent deal after being named City's player of the year. Marshall is thought to favour a move back south nearer his London-based family.