Town manager Paul Jewell says agents weren’t knocking on his door asking for talks about new contracts for their players during the Blues’ seven-game run of defeats. Town have 18 players whose terms are up during this season, in addition to the four remaining loan players.

Jewell said: “No agents have been ringing me because when a team’s lost seven on the bounce it’s not a good time for an agent to ask about a new contract.

“I think the players have realised that the most important thing is to get out of the scrap we’re in and let’s see what happens.

“There are a lot of contracts up, it’s going to be difficult to manage it because I understand that there are players whose futures are uncertain, but that’s what I’ve got to try and do.”

In the future he’d like to see fewer players’ deals up each summer, having had a similar scenario a year ago when then-skipper David Norris and Gareth McAuley departed on free transfers: “I think the way forward is that we’d like to get long-term players so we don’t get this issue every year.

“We have, and it’s down to me, brought in a lot of loan players and a lot of players on shorter term contracts.

“I accept any responsibility for that, that’s down to me, but moving forward it’s important that we consolidate our position and then move forward for the coming years getting the blend of a bit more youth and experience. Maybe the blend at the minute isn’t quite right.”

The Liverpudlian isn’t ruling out selling some of those players whose deals are up next summer during January’s transfer window but, like last year, believes the priority is to consolidate Town’s position in the Championship: “I think the most important thing is making sure the club’s in a strong enough position league-wise.

“We were offered £600,000 for David Norris and £350,000 for Damien Delaney by Crystal Palace before deadline day [last January] and turned that down.

“We knew that Chuck was probably going to go in the summer but it was imperative to keep those players to make sure we stayed in the division last year.

“The club turned down a lot of money for those players to make sure that we had the best opportunity to stay in the league because this time last year we weren’t in a great position either.”

If the likes of Jason Scotland, Grant Leadbitter, Carlos Edwards and plenty of others are still at the club beyond January, Jewell feels the second half of the season can provide a stage for them to prove themselves eith to the Blues or other clubs: “It can work both ways. I don’t think anyone could have accused Chuck, Damo or Gareth McAuley of not giving everything they had for the club.

“It can work for the player as well. If they’re playing to their potential it’s a strong bargaining point with us or if they want to move elsewhere.”

Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk

Photo: Action Images

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