VIDEO: Ferguson confirms he wants James Coppinger to stay at Doncaster Rovers

Darren Ferguson has for the first time emphatically stated that he wishes to keep James Coppinger at Doncaster Rovers beyond this season.
James CoppingerJames Coppinger
James Coppinger

But the Rovers boss says there are still plenty of talks to be had with the club hierarchy before a new contract can be sorted.

“Nothing is happening yet because we haven’t had the conversations at board level in terms of players for next season, investment for next season,” Ferguson told The Star.

James CoppingerJames Coppinger
James Coppinger

“Those discussions have not taken place.

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“Of course, as a manager, until they do I don’t know what the situation is.

“I can’t make decisions. I don’t know what sort of investment is going to be there.

“That’s where we’re at with it.

James CoppingerJames Coppinger
James Coppinger

“I’ve spoken to James on numerous occasions.

“For me he deserves a contract.”

Ferguson says he is sure of what he would like to do with new contracts and fresh additions to his squad in the summer.

And he hopes to begin to put those into place after meeting with the Rovers board later this week.

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He said: “They are very important discussions in terms of where we want to go.

“Until they take place and I see what the plans are in terms of investment – not just in the footballing side of things, there needs to be investment elsewhere – I can’t make decisions.

“We’re meeting this week and we’ll go from there.

“There’s no reason why we haven’t met yet. It was always planned for now.

“I’ve always had very good, honest chats with David Blunt, the chairman. He’s always been very good with me and Gavin Baldwin.

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“Of course, wheen you come to the end of one season there has to be plans for the following season from what you’ve analysed with this one.

“We’ll have a good chat and I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

Coppinger – whose current deal expires in the summer – has himself stated he wishes to extend his relationship with Rovers beyond 14 years.