Liam Manning has confirmed Nahki Wells’ contract situation at Bristol City is yet to be resolved after the striker scored the winner in the Robins’ clash with Blackburn Rovers. However, he insists the door remains open for him to remain at Ashton Gate beyond the end of the season.
City ended a three-match winless run in all competitions with a 2-1 win over John Eustace’s side on Saturday afternoon to cut the gap to the Championship play-off places to just three points.
Scott Twine gave the Reds an early lead in the first half as he curled home an excellent free-kick, but former Robin Andi Weimann levelled things up before half-time as he nodded in from close range after Gueye was denied by the upright.
However, Wells ensured that all three points would remain in the West Country as he found the net for the second time in as many matches. The 34-year-old latched onto a classy through ball from Joe Williams and squeezed a shot past Aynsley Pears with the help of a Danny Batth deflection.
The Bermudian international’s current contract at Ashton Gate is due to expire at the end of the season and while talks are yet to start over a new deal, Manning insists they will be held before the end of the current campaign.
“That’s still all to be sorted at the moment,” Manning replied when asked if Wells’ future was at Ashton Gate. “There’s no news on that. “I have no idea [if there is interest in him].
“They’re the conversations that have to happen in the near future about what that looks like. You don’t wait that late [the end of the season]. I think the timing is everything. The dialogue will happen.
“Of course,” Manning continued when asked if the door was open for Wells to remain a Bristol City player.
“Naturally, when people are out of contract, people will wonder what’s happening. In terms of where you look at it, there are obviously levels when it comes down to discussion, budgets and bits and pieces like that. There are so many factors that go into it. Nahki loves being here I think if you ask him that, I love working with Nahki and I think he’s really important to the group.”
Heading into this season, it was unclear just how much football Wells would play following the addition of both Fally Mayulu and Sinclair Armstrong in the summer transfer window. While the 34-year-old had to settle for a place on the bench in the first nine Championship games of the season, he has been a regular starter since with only Anis Mehmeti pipping him to the top of the Reds’ scoring charts.
Manning is the fourth manager to take charge of Bristol City since the Bermudian international made the move to Ashton Gate almost five years ago. The Robins head coach has been keen to praise the forward’s attitude and professionalism despite being left frustrated by some of his decision-making late on in the win over Blackburn.
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“His performance level has been really good. He could be on more probably but the contribution and what he’s done for the team has been excellent,” explained Manning. “I’m delighted for him, I know he’d been a little bit frustrated at not scoring.
“We had a little chat actually after one of the games recently, he was a little bit frustrated, but he contributes so much. I’m not going to lie, I was going mad when he had the shot at 2-1 in the 90th minute, not take it to the corner and kill the game but he’s a top professional and he’s great to work with.
“We talk about role modelling, we laugh about his age now but you look at the condition he’s in for his age and the minutes he’s played this season and it speaks volumes about how much he takes care of himself and his professionalism. That’s what made me laugh, rather than taking it to the corner to try and manage the game, our most experienced player is trying to score another one. We have a strong relationship.”