Akins one of 10 who still have Brewers deals
LUCAS Akins is contracted to Burton Albion for another year, the club have confirmed.
Speculation had mounted among supporters that the Brewers’ longest-serving current player might be out of contract this summer – especially given that Mansfield Town, managed by former boss Nigel Clough, had been interested in signing him in January.
What has been reiterated by the club this week is that when Akins penned an extended deal, in January 2019, it was to “keep him at the club until at least the end of the 2020-21 season.”
The Mail understands the ambiguity of that wording was because, while the club wanted to give out the good news about Akins extending his stay, negotiations were still ongoing about the final length of the deal.
Subsequently, Akins, his agent and the club concluded those negotiations with a stay until the end of next season agreed.
This does not confirm, of course, that Akins is guaranteed to stay with the Brewers but only because the same cannot be said of any player at any time.
Akins is part of a strong nucleus of 10 players already under contract around whom manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink will be fashioning a revamped squad to take on League One next season.
Goalkeeper Kieran O’hara will be entering the second year of the deal he signed last summer when he was released by Manchester United after previously being with the Brewers on loan.
Captain John Brayford also signed a two-year deal last summer, agreeing a pay cut to help the club out as the Covid-19 pandemic bit into finances.
January signings Jonny Smith, Tom Hamer and Terry Taylor all signed two-and-a-half-year deals, so they have two seasons to go.
Midfielder Joe Powell, whose spectacular goals lit up the last few weeks of the season, signed a twoand-a-half year deal when he moved from West Ham United in January, 2020, so he has a season left.
Young midfielder Ciaran Gilligan has another year to go, having made his first-team breakthrough this season and having his first professional contract extended for another season in November.
Forward Josh Parker signed an 18-month contract when he arrived in January, so he has one year left.
Striker Kane Hemmings signed for two years when he joined his home town club last summer, so he has one more to go.