Mark Hughes sets deadline for “couple” of Bantams targets

 

Mark Hughes sets deadline for “couple” of Bantams targets

MARK Hughes is confident he can sweet-talk the out-of-contract City players he wants to keep into staying.

The Bantams boss has decisions to make on 12 in his squad, whose deals are up after the final five games.

 

Speaking ahead of today’s home clash with Tranmere, Hughes is ready to use the gift of the gab on those he sees in his plans for next season.

He said: “We haven’t got too many games left obviously. I would imagine in the next couple of weeks I’ll be speaking to the guys I need to.

 

“It’s important for them to know they are in my thinking for next year.

 

“Some of those guys might want to keep their options open which I fully respect.

 

“But I like to think with what we can offer here and what we want to do next year, whoever we ask to re-contract or bring to the club will want to be part of that.”

 

Hughes appreciates that some players may be setting their sights higher than League Two for next season. But he believes the Bantams can provide an attractive proposition with what he has planned.

 

“I’m hoping those conversations I’m going to have are going to be positive,” he added. “They might not be but, fingers crossed, we’ll do our best to convince people.

 

“Sometimes the message you get from the players is different from agents, who like to keep their options open for their clients. I understand that being in the game a long time.

 

“You have to accept it and appreciate they have a role to play.

 

“We’re a club that can offer a lot of things. Guys who have worked with me from the time I came in can see that and I’d think they tell their representatives if they were offered something by ourselves they should really try and take it.

 

“I think they’ll enjoy what’s going to happen here.”