Milne: We're Very Keen to Keep Bart and He Wants to Stay
Wednesday, 27th Dec 2017 16:57

Town MD Ian Milne says he knows nothing of the weekend reports of Crystal Palace interest in keeper Bartosz Bialkowski and says owner Marcus Evans and manager Mick McCarthy will look at which areas of the squad might need strengthening during January in the next couple of weeks.

A report on Sunday claimed Bialkowski, 30, was interesting the Eagles, who are keen to add a keeper to their ranks during January.

Milne says there’s currently nothing new to report ahead of January with the Blues already having agreed a deal to sign 19-year-old Waterford striker Aaron Drinan when the window opens next week.

“I’m sure Marcus and Mick are looking to see what’s out there,” he told BBC Radio Suffolk’s Life’s a Pitch prior to the Boxing Day game against QPR. “Have I heard any news about Bart and anybody else? No, we haven’t heard about Bart.

“Bart is one of our number one players, if I can put it like that. In previous seasons, I’m surprised that nobody has come after him, and they haven’t. We’re naturally very keen to keep him and I know he wants to stay."

While there is likely to be speculation regarding Bialkowski among others during the window, Milne points out that owner Evans has turned down significant bids in the past for key players - most notably the £7 million offer from Leicester for David McGoldrick in August 2014 - rather than cashing in and using the funds generated for wider squad rebuilding.

“We have kept players even though there have been bids out there for him to strengthen the squad,” he said.

“So it is what’s right for the squad and at the moment with such good attacking football going on, and winning football, Marcus and Mick are not going to let that go lightly. We’re pushing on and pushing forward.”

However, he says players’ heads can sometimes be turned, even if he doesn’t think that is happening with anyone in the squad at the present time.

“Sometimes the salaries being offered by the Premier League sides will turn heads, but at the moment I’m not hearing any bad signs from the squad or anybody else that people are keen to go. It’s a very happy squad and a very confident squad.”

Regarding January additions, does Milne believe Evans is likely to give McCarthy any money to spend during the window, the Blues boss having previously suggested loans are the most likely option unless anyone is sold.

“I think that over the next couple of weeks, if they feel that they are weak in a certain area, and let’s face it I think in midfield [due to the current injury problems] we’re weak, and there are some opportunities, I’m sure they will look at it,” Milne added.

“They don’t want to disappoint themselves or the fans when we’re 10th and going the right way. There’s every possibility they will start looking and see what’s available.”

Bialkowski is one of a number of players whose contracts are up in the summer but with the club having an option to keep them for a further year which needs to be triggered before the season’s final match.

Cole Skuse, Teddy Bishop, Adam McDonnell, Luke Hyam, Kieffer Moore and Kevin Bru are in the same position, while the Blues exercised the option in Jonas Knudsen’s deal last week with his terms requiring that the additional year must be activated by the end of December.

David McGoldrick’s deal is up at the end of June but with no option for an extra year in the Irish international's contract.

Asked whether the contract situation will be addressed soon, Milne said: “It is a long list and they will go through it and start working on them, as they already have with some of them, sorting it out. We’ll see how the transfer season goes and that will be part of it as well.”

Photo: TWTD

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karls_dad added 12:32 - Dec 28 Hang on a moment! its in the National press, the Town forums are full of it! yet neither have any knowledge of the story?? is this guy for real? It just proves what an out and out IDIOT the man is, will somebody please explain to me what exactly this muppet does to justify his no doubt extremly large salary?
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baxter7 added 13:38 - Dec 28 Can you tell what attractive attacking football we are watching at the moment it just proves you know nothing about football milne I just hope your not going to extend McCarthy's contract it's another 2000 fans gone for next season because another couple of seasons watching McCarthy's dross will kill itfc
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blues1 added 16:03 - Dec 28

Karls dad. Ur just another who gives milne a ln unfaircamount of stick. Thers a saying that says, "dont shoot the messenger." And thats basically a big part of what his job is. To pass on information fed to him from elsewhere. Is it really necessary to have some1 to do that? I dont know, maybe, maybe not. But its not his fault. Hes doing what hes paid to do. Not saying hes great or anything. Just that some of the stick he gets is not justified.

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Warkys_Tash added 17:14 - Dec 28 Need to sign a top CM urgently, no Huws, Adeyemi or Bish. its getting desperate!
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FifeITFC added 17:55 - Dec 28

I don't know what's more troubling:

McCarthy, Evans and Milne not yet knowing what areas need strengthening yet or the fact they're going to do this in "a couple of weeks"?

Guys, the season's been running since August and the transfer window opens very soon. Pull your finger out, you should know what areas need working on and you should be ready to go to have targets already in mind. The club are not a million miles away from a Play Off place.

If the club are serious about wanting a Premiership place, they need to be much quicker off the mark than this and with contact renewals! Will they never learn?