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NEIL Lennon hopes to sort out Emile Heskey’s future at Wanderers as a matter of urgency after the squad flew back into the UK yesterday.
The former England striker returned to pre-season training without a contract but did not figure in either pre-season game in Austria.
Lennon will step up plans to recruit a new right-back, a goalkeeper and a striker this week – which is likely to mean more players heading towards the exit door to free up finances.
But the Wanderers boss insists there is a place for veteran striker Heskey in his plans, and wants to finalise an agreement as quickly as possible.
“I’d imagine that will get done when we get back,” Lennon told The Bolton News. “We’ve freed up some wages and I’d hope that means we’ll be able to bring in some other players as well.
“I’m sure that will all take care of itself over the next couple of weeks. It doesn’t happen as quickly as people think.”
Lennon eased fans’ fears over the fitness of Zach Clough after the young talisman pulled out of Monday evening’s friendly against SC Paderborn.
“Zach got a whack on his leg on Saturday so we left him out as a precaution,” he explained. “There isn’t anything much to worry about.”
A second-half collapse in Kapfenberg made it back-to-back defeats for Lennon’s side at the start of their pre-season preparations. But the Wanderers boss insists there should be no need for alarm.
“We’re playing plenty of games between now and the start of the season. It’s a long, long time until August 8 when we have to be right,” he said.
“I’ve never won too many pre-season games, even in my time at Celtic, and we got hammered a few times. It’s all for the greater good because it’s getting us to the point we want to get to.
“If we played like that a week before the season started then I’d start to worry. But I know these boys will be better, fitter and sharper.”
Meanwhile, Tim Ream’s US came from a goal behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Panama in their final group game at the Gold Cup.
The Wanderers defender did not feature for the States – who failed to win a group game for only the fourth time in 34 previous attempts.
Coach Jurgen Klinsmann is now allowed to make up to six changes to his squad for the knockout stages.
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/13419370.Neil_Lennon_wants_Emile_Heskey_to_stay_at_Wanderers/
The former England striker returned to pre-season training without a contract but did not figure in either pre-season game in Austria.
Lennon will step up plans to recruit a new right-back, a goalkeeper and a striker this week – which is likely to mean more players heading towards the exit door to free up finances.
But the Wanderers boss insists there is a place for veteran striker Heskey in his plans, and wants to finalise an agreement as quickly as possible.
“I’d imagine that will get done when we get back,” Lennon told The Bolton News. “We’ve freed up some wages and I’d hope that means we’ll be able to bring in some other players as well.
“I’m sure that will all take care of itself over the next couple of weeks. It doesn’t happen as quickly as people think.”
Lennon eased fans’ fears over the fitness of Zach Clough after the young talisman pulled out of Monday evening’s friendly against SC Paderborn.
“Zach got a whack on his leg on Saturday so we left him out as a precaution,” he explained. “There isn’t anything much to worry about.”
A second-half collapse in Kapfenberg made it back-to-back defeats for Lennon’s side at the start of their pre-season preparations. But the Wanderers boss insists there should be no need for alarm.
“We’re playing plenty of games between now and the start of the season. It’s a long, long time until August 8 when we have to be right,” he said.
“I’ve never won too many pre-season games, even in my time at Celtic, and we got hammered a few times. It’s all for the greater good because it’s getting us to the point we want to get to.
“If we played like that a week before the season started then I’d start to worry. But I know these boys will be better, fitter and sharper.”
Meanwhile, Tim Ream’s US came from a goal behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Panama in their final group game at the Gold Cup.
The Wanderers defender did not feature for the States – who failed to win a group game for only the fourth time in 34 previous attempts.
Coach Jurgen Klinsmann is now allowed to make up to six changes to his squad for the knockout stages.
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/13419370.Neil_Lennon_wants_Emile_Heskey_to_stay_at_Wanderers/
