Barnsley boss Keith Hill has confirmed he is in talks with Stephen Foster, Jim O’Brien and Andy Gray to extend their contracts at the club.
The trio are all free agents in the summer and Hill is keen to keep their experience at Oakwell.
He told the Star:
“I’m in negotiations with Stephen, Jim and Andy, I’d like to keep them at the club.”
“All three of them have done very well this season and been consistent for us, but it’s also a case of wanting to retain some continuity within the team.
“They’ve all been exceptionally supportive of me and Flicker this season and I feel they need to be rewarded for that. It’s not just on the pitch where they have been a big influence, especially Fozzie and Andy because they’re great players to have in the dressing room.
“You need continuity at a club. You look at Manchester United and they’ve still got the likes of Giggs, Scholes and Rio Ferdinand in the dressing room, there’s so much experience.
“You need leaders in the changing room and on the pitch. These three players are important for the success of the club because they know we’re building for the future.”
Whilst it is unknown what terms the three could re-sign on it is believed Gray’s will be on significantly reduced terms to the contract he signed when he joined the club in 2009.
Meanwhile Hill is keen to extend the loan of goal-keeper David Button until the end of the current campaign. The 23 year old has made five appearances for the club since arriving from Tottenham last month but his initial spell ends after this weekend’s game with Cardiff City.
Both Luke Steele and David Preece are likely to be out for the rest of the season so Hill is keen to keep Button until the end of April.
Source: FOOTYMAD
