Phil Sumbler
As the football season draws to a close it becomes traditional for there to be more talk around contract renewals from the manager and that was the case yesterday as Luke Williams addressed questions about deals for both Liam Cullen and Sam Parker.
It was reported at the weekend that Parker had turned down a new deal at the club which Williams confirmed was the case but it is clear there is still more talking to be done on this front especially as Parker has two years to run on his current deal which he signed back in August.
Parker has been handed a first team debut this season and it is clear that it is felt within his camp that this warrants a change in contract terms but Williams said there is some distance between the club’s belief and that of the player and his representatives at the moment.
“I think there was a contract offer he wasn’t happy with, or it might have been his representative. I try not to get too involved with who’s saying what,” Williams said.
“But I know about as much as you in that he didn’t like the contract, so he didn’t sign it. If Premier League clubs are trying to take him away then we’ll have to cross that bridge, but I don’t think we need to do anything urgently at the moment.”
Parker’s season was cut short through injury and Williams believes that the discussions were right given that position ” I think when you’re in a dark place because you’ve had it confirmed you’ll be missing the rest of the season at least… if you’re then going to be given a contract, it can show commitment from the club and can give you extra motivation.
“But apparently not. Everyone’s got to do what they think is right for them. I like the young ones that say ‘thanks very much’ and don’t even look when they sign it. But everyone is different.”
In terms of Cullen the club have taken the option of a one year extension on his current deal and Williams has challenged him to prove his worth for a longer term deal beyond that “We are talking a bit with Culls and we always had this option there, so we went down that path.
“I am happy with a lot of the things I am seeing from Culls. The commitment and running for the team has been incredible, but there is intelligence with that too, he’s not running around like a headless chicken, he’s making good decisions.
“I know he can score goals and I want him to be even more ruthless, because I believe in him and he is such a valuable member of the squad.
“He understands a lot of things about the club and how I want the players to perform. He has earned the right for that option to be triggered.
“That’s where we are at the moment, we have shown a commitment and it’s a platform for him to show why he should be tied down for a longer time.
“He’s 25, he understands what I want and he has the spirit to withstand a lot.
“If he is out the team, he trains by showing you how much he wants to be involved, but he never goes to a place where he sulks or is disengaged, he loves the club and these things are important.
“He has a smile on his face getting out of the car in the morning to come to work for this club.”
