Ward’s keen to open contract talks with Blues stars
Last updated 09:14, Friday, 18 July 2008
John Ward plans to open contract talks with a string of Carlisle United stars – to stop them walking away for nothing like former striker Karl Hawley.
The United boss is ready to start negotiations with senior pros, including Jeff Smith, Chris Lumsdon, Paul Thirlwell, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, David Raven, Danny Graham and Peter Murphy, even though they still have 12 months left to run on their current deals.
Ward believes they form they basis of any future success for the club, but he is also anxious to avoid a repeat of the situation when Carlisle failed to pin down Hawley on a new contract, allowing the star striker to quit Brunton Park and join Preston on a Bosman free transfer
If United had not cashed in on goalkeeper Keiren Westwood – sold to Coventry City in a £750,000 deal last month – he too would have been able to leave for nothing next summer when his contract expired as he is over 24.
Winger Jeff Smith has already revealed he is keen to prolong his stay at Brunton Park, and Ward has pledged to begin talks with players when they return from their Scottish training base next week.
Ward said: “The contract situation is something we need to move on.
“We don’t want what happened with Karl Hawley when he wandered off on a free transfer.
“With Keiren it was a different proposition as we knew he would be a Bosman and could leave for nothing next year. We could pre-empt that and sell him for good value.
“We have players here who will attract attention from other clubs but I want to keep this squad together. They are a good age group and can push on.
“Some of the players who are out of contract next summer are good players who can get better.
“Their situations need to be looked at and I hope they will welcome that. It is just as important as getting new faces in.”
Ward insists that the club is doing everything in its power to hang on to young striker Joe Garner, who attracted a £500,000 bid from Championship new boys Nottingham Forest two weeks ago.
Forest are expected to step up their pursuit of the 20-year-old record signing – sidelined until December with knee ligament damage – but Ward revealed that efforts are being made behind the scenes to persuade Garner to stay.
Ward said: “I’m keen to see Joe in a Carlisle shirt again and so too are the directors.
“If it doesn’t happen, it won’t be for the want of trying. The fact he is still a Carlisle player tells you something.
“Joe is working exceptionally hard to get fit and if he can move his career on with us, all the better. He is our record signing and that’s how highly we regard him.”
Ward hopes to add two more faces to his squad before the League One kick off on August 9 at Bristol Rovers, but ruled out making a breakthrough in the transfer market in time for tomorrow’s friendly at Partick Thistle.
