Drizzle Target Thomas
Monday, 19th May 2003 00:00

Thomas Is A Bristol City Target?

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Thomas, who hit a hat-trick on the last day of the season, is rumoured to be looking for a two year contract to stay at the Vetch further having signed last summer for his hometown club from Blackburn Rovers. A post on the Message Board tonight suggests that he has been offered a £50 per week pay rise to stay with the club.

However, Bristol City are watching movements closely at the Vetch and are prepared to offer a two year contract to James to try and get him to swap white for red and life at the top end of the Second division. Thomas is a Swansea-born lad and last season bought a new house in the City for himself and his family. However, a move to Ashton Gate would not mean that he has to move and at the end of it money quite often does talk.

There is no doubt that Bristol City will have a far greater budget available to them next season compared to ours and it is up to the 'sales pitch' of messrs Flynn and Wilson as to which club James decides to go to.

Also rumoured today is that Marc Richards has turned down the initial deal on the table from Swansea City leaving Brian Flynn with another job to do if he wants to keep him at the Vetch. With these two players already having been offered terms we have to make an assumption that all the 'retained' players have been offered terms and yet none have signed.

This does beg the question whether we are offering silly money or whether Mr Flynn's negotiation course skills are coming through in abundance (start very low etc) Is this the right way to do it or do you just offer the maximum the player is worth and make them make their decision there and then?

But whichever way you believe it should be happening, it becomes clearer that other managers are watching what is happening with these players and those that made an impression last season are clearly catching the eye of managers elsewhere.

More sitting round the table required but no time to let the grass grow under people's feet?

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