Bristol City hand out new contract as striker considers future after ‘offer’ admission

Bristol City and their Championship rivals are now on hold as the international break takes centre stage.

The Robins have endured amixed season so far, failing to build significantly on a disappointing season of last. Nigel Pearson’s men could yet push towards a top-half finish, but they are not likely to enjoy much more than mid-table obscurity. City stars will be playing for their futures over the coming weeks, with the Robins likely to be desperate to put together a promotion run next season.

As the business end of the season approaches, we have rounded up all the latest news surrounding City and their Championship rivals.

New contract

Bristol City keeper Harvey Wiles-Richards has signed a new contract to remain at the club.

The prospect will be pushing Max O’Leary for the number one spot after Dan Bentley’s exit during the January window. The 20-year-old is yet to make his senior debut, but he will be keen to do so in the coming months, or early next season. Wiles-Richards has been handed a new one-year contract, giving him the opportunity to prove himself over pre-season and beyond.

As part of the deal, and with Nikita Haikin returning to Norway, Wiles-Richards has become City’s second-choice keeper.

Deeney admission

Birmingham City striker Troy Deeney admits he is weighting up his future at St Andrew’s amid a fresh contract offer.

“There’s an offer there,” said Deeney. “But I’m just seeing how it looks. It’s not about the money. Is there a coaching role there? They want me to do coaching but the project has to be right. When I parted ways at Watford, there were options to go to Celtic, Middlesbrough, abroad or Birmingham.

“Birmingham was the least attractive in terms of what it was. And it wasn’t everything that was sold at the start. But now I understand the dynamics of it. It’s going to be more about time than money. It’s a question of ‘do you want to invest more time?’ or do you go ‘thanks, but no thanks’ and move on to pastures new?”