Keith Curle on player contracts and looking forward
United manager Keith Curle confirmed today that negotiations had started with four of his short-term contract players as planning for the second half of the campaign gathers pace.
“We're in the final stages of negotiations with Joe Thompson, Angelo Balanta, Derek Asamoah and David Atkinson,” he said. “The players have been given their offers in writing and it’s now down to their representatives to dot the I's and cross the T's.
“We're hopeful that those players will all be able to agree their contracts. Some of them have been offered deals until the end of the season and some have been offered longer contracts.
“They have until 1 January 2016 to let us know but I've had good communication with all of them. I've told them where I want them to go in terms of their footballing ability and how I see them fitting in. Conversations have been very positive so now it's a case of making sure the legalities of how it's been put down on paper fit with their requirements.
“All of the contracts we’ve set out are incentivised and performance related because we think that's the way forward for the football club. Players will get financial reward for success on the pitch. For the football club to pay money out, it has to be earned by the players on the pitch. If we're doing our jobs we'll get the support, and the more support we get the more money the football club has to pay the players.”
And on the squad members who have contracts which run until the end of the current season, he said: “There are players we are talking to about furthering their careers with us beyond this season. That shows we have one eye on players who are doing well at the football club. The pleasing thing is I know there are players in that dressing room who I can improve.
“More details on who we’ve spoken to will come out in the fullness of time. I’m very respectful of the fact that talking has to be done and decisions made. As soon as everyone is ready we can let people know where we are.
“I know I also need to bring more players in to improve what we have at the football club. We've highlighted three players and we have the advantage of our game against Hartlepool being off, which means all of the staff can go out to scout potential targets. We've watched DVDs and have good character references, so we're trimming the list down to players I'm going to go and see. As a coaching team we are all out, gathering that final bit of information we feel we need.”
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