Keane’s situation isn’t causing City problems
MCCANN DENIES CONTRACT IMPASSE UNDERMINING PROGRESS
Grant Mccann says the ongoing impasse over Keane Lewis-potter’s contract situation is not having a detrimental impact on the Hull City dressing room, though he stopped short of ruling out the influential teenager handing in a transfer request.
Lewis-potter was once again on the substitutes’ bench for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Charlton Athletic at the KCOM Stadium, coming off the bench in the second half to play a key part in Greg Docherty’s second goal after Hakeeb Adelakun had fired the Tigers in front in the first half.
Despite a 15-day break in between fixtures over the Christmas period, it’s understood there has been no progress between vicechairman Ehab Allam, Lewis-potter and his representative over a disagreement over the length of the deal.
“That’s a question for Ehab, really,” Mccann told BBC Humberside.
“My understanding is that he’s not for sale. We see him as a big part of the future of this football club hence why we want to keep him here for a lot longer than he is.
“All the time I’ve been here, there’s been a lot of people getting on the back of the club that they don’t tie the younger players down to longer contracts.
“What you’ve seen over the past six, seven, eight weeks, a lot of the younger ones have tied down their future to the football club, and we want Keane to do the same.”
The Mail reported earlier in the week that no progress had been good relationship and we’re always made in agreeing the length of in conversation and I hope his agent Lewis-potter’s deal with his is going to be in conversation with hometown club, with talks set to the football club soon as well,” he continue, according to Mccann. said. “People will try and make it a
“What I can tell you is that there’s festering sore from the outside, I’ve no change on that, and it’s left with seen comments regarding the Keano’s agent and the football club situation with Keane from people - that’s all I want to say on the who haven’t got a clue about our matter. changing room.
“Of course there has, every single “People will talk about it, people day,” Mccann said when asked if have got opinions and they can say there had been any further talks what they want to say. over the Christmas break. “For us, we know where we are
Sources have indicated to the and we know the situation.
Mail that players within the dressing “It’s in the hands of Keano, his room have been unhappy with the agent and the football club. I’m here way Lewis-potter’s situation has to focus on the football. been handled by the Tigers, but “Different media channels will say Mccann insists there is no unrest. it’s damaging our changing room -
“Me and Keano have got a really it’s funny when you lose three games, people will say its damaging the changing room, the 12 games before that nobody said that.
“That’s just media stoking the fire. “Keano is a big part of our changing room and the players love Keane, they know the situation and I’m very open and honest with the players about it, so there’s absolutely no unrest in our changing room, I can tell you that.
“People can keep saying there is, they’ll do what they want to do but we’re focused on the job in hand.”
When asked if there was a possibility of Lewis-potter handing in a transfer request, Mccann refused to be drawn.
“I think I’ve said all I can on the matter, and all I want to say on it,” added the Northern Irishman.