City boss speaks to Sky Blues squad about who is and is not part of his plans next season
Coventry City manager Steven Pressley and development director Steve Waggott have completed preliminary discussions with the entire Sky Blues first team squad as part of their planning for the future.
Pressley, who has been in post two months, has drawn-up plans for his squad in the last few weeks, and has been explaining them to the players.
The manager has confirmed that talks will see a “considerable turnaround” of playing staff as he looks to craft a more manageable squad size for next season.
“Our development director Steve Waggott and I met all 34 players over the weekend to discuss our plans for the next season and beyond,” he said.
“There are players who will not be involved and it was vitally important this process was handled in the right manner. Those talks will be on-going.
“I want to produce a very hungry set of players who are tuned totally into the way we want to play our football. I want us as fit and committed as possible.
“I have now got the chance to shape the squad and the work is well under way.
“I believe that 34 players is too many for a club of this size and I want to reduce that and that is a footballing decision. However under financial fair play we still need to make decisions that will leave us room for manoeuvre when rebuilding a side that can challenge for promotion.
“We can only spend on our playing budget, 60 per cent of our turnover and, as everyone is aware, we do not currently have access to a great deal of the revenue we generate. I have to factor that into my plans.
“I also want to ensure that the players we are developing in our academy have a clear route through to the first team squad, and that is another reason why we need to be leaner and hungrier.”
Waggott added: "I'm sure supporters will be very keen to know who will and will not be figuring in Steven Pressley's plans following the discussions this weekend.
"We hope to be able to answer as soon as we practically can because yesterday was just the first step in the process and we need to sit down with agents and formalise the proceedings before we can make any official announcements."
Pressley did however confirm that James Bailey and Callum Ball will return to Derby County when their agreements lapse in June, but that he was talking to Southampton about the future of centre-half Aaron Martin.