Bolton manager Owen Coyle: I have to make a football decision regarding Ricardo Gardner’s contract situation

EPL: Ricardo Gardner, Bolton Wanderers – Newcastle United (PA)

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Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle has stated he won’t offer Ricardo Gardner’s a new contract just because he has spent 13 years with the club.

Since making his debut for the club in 1998 in the old First Division, Gardner has gone on to make 343 league appearances, including four this season, all of which have been in the last month.

Gardner made the move to England after impressing for Jamaica in the 1998 World Cup and he was the subject of a £1 million transfer from Harbour View in his native country.

Even though he has had a magnificent career with the Trotters, manager Owen Coyle insists he must make a football decision in regards to offering him a new deal.

Speaking to the Bolton News, Coyle said: “I have given Ricardo that game time to try and be fair to him.

“He has been an outstanding player for the club. I like to think I am loyal to my players and I want to make sure I give them the opportunity.

“I told him I would give him game time to try and earn a contract.

“Now I have to sit down with him and make a decision. I will take all the emotion out of it and make a football decision.”

The player himself is trying not to think about the contract situation, declaring that he is just enjoying playing football, and although he hasn’t spoken to the manager directly on the subject, he would certainly like to add one more year onto his time at Bolton.

“I don’t even want to think about my contract,” he said. “I just want to go out there and help my team-mates get the win we play each game for.

“I haven’t spoken to the manager yet but we’ll see what happens at the end of the season.

“It would be great to get a new deal and push on from there but at the end of the day it’s up to the manager. I’d be pleased to stay on here.”