Western Daily Press (Saturday)
I’ve made my mind up on everybody – Pearson
NIGEL Pearson has admitted that he has held ruthless talks with some of his Bristol City players over their futures – stating it is now up to them to act accordingly.
The manager has previously gone on record to challenge a number of his players by saying they have until the end of the season to show they deserve to be at the club next season.
Timm Klose, Robbie Cundy, Andy King and Callum O’Dowda are all out of contract at the end of the campaign, while others such as Zak Vyner have found first-team games difficult to come by in recent months.
Defender Cam Pring is another who has had limited game-time recently and was also left out of the matchday squad in the last two matches, although Pearson insisted the decision was “nothing sinister.”
However, his team selection over the final two matches of the season, starting with today’s game against Hull and ending at Huddersfield could dictate the futures of a number of his players going forward.
Speaking ahead of the game with the Tigers, Pearson said: “There will be players that miss out on the squad due to various decisions.
“I want to win the games. If we can they’ll be a few disappointed players, but that’s how it is, it’s nice to get some competition and we’re moving in the right direction.
“I’ve made my mind up on everybody, I’m not going to lie on that part. I’ve had conversations with some players already, so they know where they stand, whether they’re going to be here or not, or if they’re outside the plans at least they will be aware of that before the season finishes so that they can act accordingly, it’s just how it needs to be.
“I expect the blend of the squad to be different (next season), whether the team will be different is another thing. There will be changes and the rate of change will be depending on various things. Some of it will depend on players moving themselves on. Players who are out of contract – their situation is slightly different but there will be a mixture.
“Of course, there are players, like (Jay) Dasilva’s situation where around Christmas that situation looks very different to what it is now.
“That’s football it’s down to how people approach the challenge themselves and whether they’re prepared to meet the challenges or not.”
When touching on the absence of the versatile Pring, a regular in the first half of the season, Pearson offered no assurances that he will feature in the final two matches and admitted defender Duncan Idehen is ahead of him in the pecking order.
“He (Pring) has had a really good, breakthrough season,” Pearson added. “Whether he’s included in the last few squads is irrelevant, he’s contributed well and he’s had some tough times too. He’s made mistakes but don’t all players, so I always read with interest the conspiracies with what’s happening with these players. Nothing. If they don’t start, the bench is never there to make people happy, it’s to make things balance if any changes need to be made.”