Talks put on hold over new deal for Stock with Rovers

DONCASTER ROVERS captain Brian Stock is fighting for his future at the club after failing to agree terms on a new deal.

The Welsh international midfielder joined Rovers four years ago and has played a key role in the transition job under manager Sean O'Driscoll.

But Stock, who is out of contract next summer, has now spent the last four games on the bench and talks over a new contract have stalled.

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Speaking ahead of tomorrow's game with Nottingham Forest, O'Driscoll acknowledged that Rovers risk losing Stock who was a summer target for Swansea City.

But O'Driscoll also hailed the performances of Simon Gillett and Martin Woods – who have kept the 28-year-old out of the side – and indicated that a player's past achievements count for nothing.

"Contract talks with Brian are on hold," said O'Driscoll. "We will revisit it in January – which is obviously a risk for us and a risk for the boy.

"Football changes and evolves. We almost had to rely on him but that's not the case now. I can't just put him back in because he has played well in the past – Martin Woods and Simon Gillett have come in and done really well.

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"If you are trying to motivate a whole squad, you have to treat everybody the same," he stressed. "We have tried to raise the level of performance and there are one or two others who started the season who are not in the team just now."

Stock's future has been left in limbo as Rovers have reached contract agreement in recent weeks with James Coppinger, James O'Connor, and Woods.

Yet there are several other players out of contract next summer – including Neil Sullivan, Sam Hird, James Chambers, Mustapha Dumbuya, Byron Webster, and Steve Brooker – who have yet to start talks.

"At some point, we will have to sit down and discuss their situations, "said O'Driscoll. "We are not going to leave it to the end of the season and suddenly say 'by the way, you're not going to get a contract.' There are no ulterior motives. Circumstances change.

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"It is just not the time right now to sit down and do it for the players or the club."

Reflecting on the decision to postpone talks with Stock until January, O'Driscoll said: "Everyone has to feel comfortable. There is no point the club feeling uncomfortable and it is vitally important that the player doesn't feel he is being pressurised into signing something.

"We have come to a point, quite amicably, to say 'rather than drag this on, let's see where we are in January'. Both parties have to agree."