Stoke chairman Peter Coates insists the club are in no rush to sort the contracts of their top players.
Chairman won't rush through Fuller or Etherington contracts
Stoke chairman Peter Coates has claimed that the club are in no rush to sort out the contracts of their top players.
Striker Ricardo Fuller and winger Matthew Etherington have both stated recently that they would like to stay at the Britannia Stadium and would like new contracts in place in the near future.
With Etherington publicly stating his disappointment at not yet being offered parity with the club's top earners, and Fuller being the subject of interest from other clubs, there has been a clamour for both players to be tied down soon to avoid losing them.
Coates however was less flustered over the matter, addressing it with calm as both Fuller and Etherington still have two years left on their current deals and, as yet, not being officially pursued by any other club.
"They have two years left of their present contracts. Whether we extend them or not or they get changed, let's see how things progress between now and the start of the season," Coates told
The Sentinel.
No pressure
"We look at these things and take a view so we have the comfort of them both having two years on their contract.
"That's very good for Stoke City. There's no pressure there for us.
"They are both very fine players and both highly valued by the club. That's why they have the contracts they have.
"That's what you do to protect your interests.
"They are both very fine players, as everybody knows at Stoke. They are also both very nice individuals."
