No deadline for out-ofcontract pair

Andy Cullen insists Pompey remain in talks with their outof-contract pair.

However, he has ruled out enforcing a deadline for Aiden O’Brien and Michael Jacobs to settle their Fratton Park futures.

The News/Sports Mail Player of the Season Sean Raggett last week handed the Blues a boost by signing a new deal.

Now Reeco Hackett has followed suit by yesterday committing himself to two years.

And Cullen is adamant negotiations are also continuing with popular pair O’Brien and Jacobs, who are effectively now free agents.

He told The News: ‘We are still in talks with everybody, we have the dialogue going in every single individual case.

‘The players know what the terms are, as out-of-contract players it’s entirely within their rights to determine what is right for them.

‘We would love to see each of them in a Pompey shirt next season – and that’s something which hasn’t changed from the minute we put the original deals together to them.

‘As out-of-contract players, they have a prerogative to take their time to consider what it’s going to be like for them at the next stage of their careers.

‘We have to be respectful that Michael and Aiden will want to carefully consider.

‘They are at a stage of their careers where they need to be absolutely certain of their futures, particularly from a footballing perspective.

‘Are they going to be regularly playing and at this stage of their careers does everything stack up properly for them?’

Cullen won’t be setting a deadline, adding: ‘When you put deadlines on deals it becomes meaningless.

‘There comes a point where both parties intuitively know when it might be time to move on.’