Brentford’s public courtship of former Reading defender Alan Bennett stepped up this week as he took the captain’s armband ahead of club skipper Kevin O’Connor in the home defeat to Ipswich Town.

Bees boss Andy Scott has made no secret of his desire to land the 27-year-old on a permanent basis having had his services on loan for the club’s League Two title winning campaign.

The Irishman, who captained the side in O’Connor’s absence towards the end of last season, was mobbed by autograph hunting fans outside the players’ dressing room on Wednesday night.

Brentford dominated large parts of their clash with Roy Keane’s Championship side and Scott is hoping that - and a bit of TLC - can tip the balance when it comes to landing Bennett’s signature.

“If we are able to sign him it would be a massive boost for us, but I’m not counting my chickens,” he said.

“We’re trying to keep him happy and keep him playing.

“He can see, out on the pitch and on the training field, we are trying to put a side together that can challenge the bigger teams in League One.

“That is what he wants to do and what we want to do. He’s an ambitious lad and I can’t blame him for that.

“We’re anticipating an answer in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime we’ll give him some game time and hopefully it comes up trumps for us.

“Making him captain is a continuation of last year and makes everyone more comfortable with the situation.

“He revelled in the role last year and I’m sure he would do again if he signs for us. If that gives us a chance of keeping him as well then great.”

Should Bennett sign it would put Scott in the enviable position of being able to field two recent captains on the pitch in key central roles, which bodes well for the season ahead.

“We need more leaders on the pitch this year, because we are going to need them. Kevin is comfortable with that and put in another great shift,” he added.

“We want players to improve and develop and sometimes people come out of the woodwork and you don’t realise they are going to be one of the talkers.

“Lewis Price, Danny Foster and Karleigh Osborne have all done that.”