Decision day looming for club stars

ROBBIE SIMPSON: hopes are high he will stay at Boundary Park.

ATHLETIC should know early next week which of its players will be staying with the club.

A deadline — thought to be this weekend — will insist on players giving the club an answer.

Of the most prominent players handed terms, manager Paul Dickov has said repeatedly he hopes Robbie Simpson will decide to stay.

There has been no public indication about the decisions of fellow out-of-contract regulars Filipe Morais and Shefki Kuqi. Kuqi, the scorer of 16 goals last season, has a clause in his contract offering him the chance to stay on the same terms.

Other players who have not responed to renewed contract offers include Bradley Diallo, Youssouf Mchangama and Kirk Millar.

Despite the uncertainty, Simon Corney remains relaxed about the situation.

"D-day is approaching," said Athletic's chairman, but there are plenty of players out there and I am not worried at all. We have players approaching us all the time and it is a matter of taking time and getting the best ones."

Athletic's chairman has had no further news about the future of goalkeeper Alex Cisak — despite speculation that Peterborough had mounted a £350,000 bid. The Championship club has since signed Torquay's Bobby Olejnik to fill that role. Cisak has another year to run on his Boundary Park deal, but a significant offer may yet take him elsewhere.




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