Star saviour Linwood is ready to talk

May 9 2008 by Alec Doyle, Chester Chronicle

PAUL Linwood does not believe that his contract situation will be sorted for at least a few weeks but revealed he is prepared to sit down with Simon Davies to discuss his future.

The centre-back – whose performances were head and shoulders above his team-mates this year – has become the focus of the transfer speculation as his contract has expired but while he said Davies’ door was always open for him, he has not begun serious talks about his future.

“Nothing gets sorted out until everyone knows where they are,” he said.

“It’s not nice being out of contract. I’ve sat down with Si semi-seriously and said we’re going to get together in the next couple of weeks to see if there’s anything there.

“The club has not set me a deadline so we’ll sit down and gradually things will get sorted out.”

Linwood swept the board in the club’s player- of-the-season awards after stepping into the breach when Paul Butler was injured and then fell out of favour to captain the side and lead them to safety.

The 24-year-old, in only his second full season in the Football League after enduring loans and bit-part appearances for Tranmere Rovers, showed true class as he took the young players around him and led by example as they saved the Blues with one game to spare.

“I think everyone was just relieved,” he said. “The Macclesfield game on Saturday was just a typical end-of-season game really.

“We finished the season on a bit of a high with three clean sheets and three points.

“If we had not got a point against Stockport the Tuesday before it would have been really tense.

“It certainly wouldn’t have been pretty football!”

Despite uncertainty over his future at the Deva Stadium, Linwood was full of praise for Simon Davies and the club.

“I couldn’t have asked for more this season. I’ve enjoyed every minute although there has been bad times.

“There is a young team here now and hopefully they can grow.”