From todays adver...
This isn’t the end
2nd May 2006
SEAN O’HANLON insists Town’s relegation will not inevitably trigger his County Ground exit although he is keen to see the extent of the club’s ambition to bounce straight back into League One at the first attempt.
The skipper has yet to commit himself to a new deal at the club and there is no doubt other sides will be monitoring his contract progress over the coming days and weeks.
O’Hanlon is ambitious and wants to test himself at the highest possible level but that doesn’t mean he will refuse to ply his trade in the Football League’s lowest level next season.
Bill Power’s imminent arrival at the County Ground will inject fresh investment into the club, including a boost for the manager’s playing budget, and O’Hanlon is ruling nothing in or out with the relegation wounds still very fresh.
He said: “The manager said after the game that we hadn’t lost it there (Bristol City). Over the course of the season we just hadn’t been strong enough. We’ve had a very young side, we’ve all gained experience from this and the goal now is to bounce back.”
The big question is whether O’Hanlon will be around to help Town escape from the ‘basement’ when the 2006-7 campaign kicks off in early August?
He said: “There’s only a couple of us left to sign (O’Hanlon and goalkeeper Rhys Evans) and I think (further negotiations) it’ll go on in the next week or so. We’ve still got some decent players here and I think we’ll be favourites to bounce back.”
On a personal level, O’Hanlon says it is not a simple case of being happy to compete in League One yet repugnant at the prospect of taking the drop.
He will consider all options, but certainly isn’t rushing for the exit.
He said: “No, not at all. I’m Swindon Town player, I love the club, I’m settled. I suppose it’s a bit of a Sam Parkin situation.
“It’s about ambitions and if a bigger club comes in then you have to consider it. But at the moment I’m negotiating with Swindon Town.”
Deputy chairman Mark Devlin has already held a number of meetings with the player’s agent and a further discussion is expected to take place in the next few days.
O’Hanlon and Evans are the two big hitters that manager Iffy Onuora is keen to keep on board and while he hopes both men will still say ‘yes’ in the light of relegation, he is looking to clear up the remaining contract issues in the next week, before the players depart for their summer break after the final match of the campaign against Huddersfield.
The respective futures of players including Stefani Miglioranzi, Steve Jenkins and Kyle Lapham have still to be addressed.
Onuora said: “I might have a couple of chats this week. Most of the players, particularly the ones out of contract will be aware of my intentions and the process has to start straight away.
“The fans pay good money and you feel for them. They’ve backed us all the way and it’s important to send out a message to them that the fightback starts as soon as we possibly can.”
Errr....no Sean. :| Sam was the best player in the side three years running, you on the other hand have been distinctly average most of the time, with the odd good game here and then.
Still, good to see he hasnt given up on us...unless of course he is going to do a Grant Smith. :evil:
EDIT: Having read that back, that sounds very anti-O'Hanlon... I am not and I for one hope he stays.
