Planet Swans ArchivesSwans defender Alan Tate has admitted that he would like to extend his stay at the Liberty Stadium when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Tate joined the Swans back in 2002 and was an integral part of the side that fought so successfully against relegation to the Conference before making his stay at Swansea a permanent one. And he started this season as captain in the absence of Garry Monk before a broken knee cap disrupted his season and currently he finds himself on the fringes of the first team although he did play in both cup competitions a couple of weeks back.
Speaking in today’s papers, Tate said “I’m happy down here and content with the way things are going
“I’d like to sort something out, the sooner the better.
“But it’s up to the chairman and the manager and if they see me as part of the club’s future.
“Hopefully they do and we will get something sorted.
The Western Mail reports that the club have started to speak to agents of some of their out of contract stars, something which you would expect to happen especially after Roberto’s criticism last summer that so many were allowed to have their contracts expire.
“We are in the results business and in the next few weeks we must concentrate on getting results,” said Martinez ahead of tonight’s League One home game with Hartlepool.
“The players should be focused on the next game and the next challenge, but Swansea City will assess the situation and speak to everyone.
“The communication between the two parties is there, it’s not that we don’t speak.
“But you’ve got different characters in the game, some players will want to gamble and see how the next few weeks goes and others know exactly what they want and we will see how we can meet up in that respect. Each situation is different, but the position of the club is simple. We are going to keep in touch with everyone and make sure that everything is tied up.
“Everyone deserves to know where they stand, when you get in a contract for the last five or six months the club know where you are. That’s the nature of football, but it’s such an important period that agents and club should be talking about that situation.”
“I’m not going to leave anything up in the air at the end of the season,” he said. “Everything will be dealt with before then, but it’s important we find the right time.
“You need to be prepared and put a lot of effort in, but I don’t want to see Swansea with eight or nine players out of contract at the end of the season.
“I don’t think it’s healthy for Swansea City, the players and the football club will have their own views, but it’s a matter of getting together and speaking about the situation.”
