STAN TERNENT has set his sights on agreeing a new contract with James Berrett after completing a three-year agreement with fellow teenager Joe Skarz and a two-year deal with experienced keeper Matt Glennon.
Talks with the midfielder and his agent are ongoing as the manager aims to sort out his existing squad before plunging into the transfer market.
While Ternent’s phone has been busy with calls from other managers and agents, he’s keen to seal a deal with Berrett first.
Both the 19-year-old and his Town teammate Michael Collins were today flying out to Malaysia with the Republic of Ireland Under 21 squad for the Intercontinental Cup tournament.
Settling his immediate future would help Berrett focus on earning selection for the group games against Iraq on Thursday, Malaysia on Saturday and Nigeria a week today.
While Berrett has made 12 starts and seven substitute appearances for Town, the younger Skarz (he’s still 18) made his 50th appearance (42 of them have been starts) in the final game of the League I season at Luton nine days ago.
And Ternent believes there could be many more, explaining: “It’s not rocket science. That number of games for an 18-year-old tells you he can play a bit.
“He’ll have some competition from Robbie Williams, who I haven’t seen play yet, and that will be good for him.
“We’re really pleased to have agreed the deal with Joe. We believe he can go a long way in the game, and we’ll do our best to help him.”
On Glennon, Ternent said: “I’m delighted to have him signed up. I rate him as highly as any goalkeeper in the division.”
Former Town manager Andy Ritchie is being linked with the vacancy at League II rivals Walsall.
Ritchie parted company with Town by mutual consent on April 1.
Richard Money resigned as Walsall boss on April 22, with Jimmy Mullen becoming caretaker boss.
