STAYING ON
COWLEY CONFIDENT HIS LOAN STARS WILL FINISH SEASON WITH TOWN
DANNY Cowley has confirmed Town are in a ‘good place’ to extend the deals of their Premier League loan men until the end of the season.
The Terriers boss is hopeful of tying up the final couple before the Championship restart against Wigan Athletic at the John Smith’s on Saturday.
Cowley – who says Town have not been able to give decisions to those players who are out of contract in the summer about what will happen next season – believes the full squad will be willing to play on for the club with short-term extensions to the end of this season.
“I think this is a really tough time for everybody in football,” said Cowley, who has Jonas Lossl (Everton), Kamil Grabara (Liverpool), Andy King (Leicester), Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal), Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea) and Chris Willock (Benfica) on loan.
“I try and look at it from everyone’s perspective and it’s a challenge for all clubs, not just in the Championship, but League One, League Two and the National League. There has been so much uncertainty about not knowing whether we would finish this season, when next season will start, not knowing when fans will be back in the stadium and what capacity – so there has been a lot of uncertainly for clubs and I really feel for those players out of contract.
“For them there is a lot of uncertainty, and that’s what creates the anxiety.
“I have tried to be clear with the players, even if it’s not good news, we have had the conversations. I have tried to give them explanations and to overcommunicate, which I think is a good way to work in this situation.”
Cowley has completed the loan extension of midfielder King to the end of the season and added: “I think we are in a good place with all the loan players.
“We are just trying to finalise the last one or two prior to Saturday if we can.
“With the boys out of contract, we are not able to make any decisions about next season at the moment.
“But we are in a good place to extend all their deals to finish the season.
“I have to credit the players.
They could take the easy decision for them and I wouldn’t blame them if they did.
“While you want them to put the club first, I do understand that ultimately as a professional player you are like a private limited company at times.
“Football can be quite brutal at times and sometimes they have to look after themselves and make tough decisions.
“I wouldn’t hold that against them, but our lads are willing to put their bodies on the line for the club and that makes me feel really proud of them, and it says a lot about them as people.”