Source: FOOTYMAD
Time for Westwood to decide
Boothroyd wants a decision from his 'keeper Aidy Boothroyd has asked Kieren Westwood to make up his mind about whether he wants to stay at Coventry City and at the same time has warned him not to let his contract expire so he can leave on a free in 10 months time, because he could find himself spending much of the season on the bench. Boothroyd has been boosted by the return from Everton of Iain Turner. Turner arrived a few hours before the start of the game at Watford only to go off with a bad head injury after 14 minutes. Turner is training with City and could be stiff competition for Westwood. Both Boothroyd and Everton boss David Moyes rate Turner very highly, which explains why Moyes won't consider selling Turner, but is keen for the young 'keeper to be on a long term loan. Boothroyd is desperately keen to keep the 25 year old Westwood, who became a father on Wednesday, but has warned the Irish international that he could be left with nothing if he should pick up an injury. Boothroyd said, “Keiren is a player that we really want to keep, but he hasn’t signed a contract yet. We think he should, his representatives think he should but at the moment he doesn’t, so we’ve got to find a way to make Coventry City more appealing." "Every player wants to play in the Premiership but several things have got to happen before they can, for one, somebody from the Premiership has got to want them. So far we’ve had just the one bid from Celtic that I was slaughtered for being racist, xenophobic, or whatever." "There have been no other offers, which is surprising because, as I’ve said several times, I think he’s the best goalkeeper in the Championship. I think Keiren’s best place right now is here because this club is going forward." "We want to be a Premiership club and I want Keiren Westwood to be part of that, but either he signs and we get on with it, or he doesn’t and we start to look elsewhere. No player, or manager, is ever bigger than the club, and I’ve got to think about the state of mind of the player and whether it’s a distraction for the squad going forward and doing a lot better than we have done in recent years.” Speaking about the return of Ian Turner from Everton, Boothroyd confirmed, “I want to extend his loan because I think he’s a top goalkeeper. David Moyes doesn’t want to sell him because he has high hopes for him and thinks he’s going to go on to bigger and better things with Everton." “I believe that too, and to have Iain Turner and Keiren Westwood here is a good coup for us. That’s what any club needs, two good goalkeepers fighting it out for the No.1 jersey. I’ve had this before with players who let their contracts run down, they’re different. "They’ll say ‘I’m 100 per cent focused and I’ll give my all’ and I’m sure that they mean that, but whatever you say if you’re in the final year of your contract you’re not going to be as focused as you would be with the security of two or three years. Security is important. We know how you can get injuries just like that." “Keiren’s daughter arrived on Wednesday night, Caitlin, so we wish him and Danielle all the best, but that’s a serious consideration. I’d hate it if a player who I have such a high regard for as a person and a professional would pick up a long-term injury and be left with nothing at the end of the season." “I’ve got to mange it and decide what we’re going to do. I’ve got to listen to the player, see where he’s at and try to persuade him that this is the place he wants to be. If he decides ‘no it’s not, I want a different challenge’ then I’ll get somebody else." “Either somebody will make a bid or they won’t; Keiren will sign a new contract or he won’t; and then I’ll have to decide whether I’m going to play him or not.”
