Luke Dowling

What's happening with his contract.

And,

I had a chat with him beginning of this week before we started training.

He wasn't surprised that the conversation was having and took it like a true professional.

He then went off and trained and I'm watching training and I'm just smiling to myself because I'm thinking we're just told him that his contract is not going to be renewed.

The passing drill that he's just done and then the shooting exercise, it was wonderful to watch, you know, and you're thinking at times, why are we letting this guy go?

But I think for him as well, the time's right to move on.

And he's offered so much to this club as well.

We can't thank him enough.

Yeah, obviously, I understand the point that you're mentioning, Keith, with yourself.

And when I touched on earlier about the management of Slavin, I think that is a big part of it.

I don't think Chris or Gareth can have any complaint about the way Slavin's handled them.

Obviously, they're top, top professionals.

They understand that the team's playing well.

They've got to wait for their chance.

But I'd say let's go and watch the West Ham FA Cup game at the beginning of January where Slavin made some changes and Gareth and Chris played against a very, very strong West Ham side away in the middle of the park together and ran the game.

They were absolutely phenomenal for us in the game that we won 1-0.

But I think they've got the respect from Slavin and Slavin respects them.

He'll go to them and ask them questions about the game, about what they've seen and about the work in weeks.

So I think there's a really good respect between the three of them.