Hamilton's contract offer set to be first of many at U's (From Gazette)

Hamilton's contract offer set to be first of many at U's

10:15am Friday 10th February 2012 in Colchester Utd By Jonathan Waldron

John Ward has been given the green light to open contract talks with his Colchester United players.

And the U’s boss said he will be concentrating specificially on discussing terms with some of the club’s up-and-coming stars, in the coming days.

More than a dozen Colchester stars will see their deals expire at the end of the season.

Ward and U’s chairman Robbie Cowling have stressed that they will not be rushed in their attempts to keep players at the club.

But the process has now started and Ward said he will first be focusing on talking to some of Colchester’s promising youngsters.

He has already offered young defender Bradley Hamilton another deal, with further offers for the U's second-year scholars expected to follow.

Ward said: “I want to look at the youth department first, which will happen over the next few days.

“I’ve also got one or two senior boys I need to discuss things with.

“But I won’t be talking to everyone at the same time, because that’s kind of impossible to manage.

“The chances are that with senior pros, you make them an offer and they go away and have until the end of May to think about it.

“I have to figure out whether that’s the right thing to do for the football club and if the timing is right.

“But I have the green light to move with one or two things, particularly with the boys coming through.”