Fleetwood Town head coach isn't worried by players' contract status

Head coach Simon Grayson is not too concerned with the current contract situation at Fleetwood Town.
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Only six games remain of the Cod Army’s season, starting with Saturday’s trip to Hull City.

They go into that match on the back of a 1-0 victory against Rochdale, their goal created by Wes Burns.

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The Welshman is one of the club’s longest-serving players, having featured more than 150 times since joining them permanently in 2017 after a prior loan spell.

Fleetwood Town's Wes Burns Picture: Stephen Buckley/PRiME Media Images LimitedFleetwood Town's Wes Burns Picture: Stephen Buckley/PRiME Media Images Limited
Fleetwood Town's Wes Burns Picture: Stephen Buckley/PRiME Media Images Limited
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The 26-year-old’s deal expires in the summer but contracts are not Grayson’s main focus after the recent renewals for Alex Cairns, Jordan Rossiter and Ged Garner.

He said: “We’re looking at all of the players who are out of contract and what is going to happen from our perspective, but also from the players’ perspective.

“We’ve done some contracts recently. Wes Burns is a player that has affected the team and been here a number of years, but those sorts of things will take care of themselves come the end of the season with a lot of players.”

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A change of formation against Rochdale saw Town switch from a 3-5-2 to a 4-3-3 set-up with Burns on one wing and Barrie McKay the other, flanking central striker Kyle Vassell.

McKay is in his second loan spell at Highbury, and although the Swansea City man made a strong impression last season, he has struggled to replicate that form or game time over the course of this campaign.

Grayson admitted it is a frustrating time for the Scot, who has been the victim of their formation change as well as illness.

Grayson said: “He gives you something different and he has been a bit frustrated because the system that we have been playing hasn’t allowed him to get into the team.

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“The front two of Kyle Vassell and Ged Garner has been very good.

“We just felt that last weekend was a good opportunity for Barrie to come back into the team.

“He’s also had Covid and a stop-start period that have contributed to him not being involved.

“He had an opportunity on Saturday and he showed some good glimpses of what he is capable of doing, without a shadow of a doubt.

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“On the other side of it, it wasn’t easy for a player like him. Good, technical runners of the ball need a decent surface.

“I’m not criticising the ground staff but it’s just the nature of where we are at this stage of the season.”

It has been agreed that Town’s trip to Hull will kick-off at 12.30pm as to avoid clashing with Prince Philip’s funeral.

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