Town manager Roy Keane says Jon Stead’s proposed move to Bristol City is likely to be confirmed one way or the other today. The Blues have accepted an offer from the Robins believed to be in the region of £225,000 with the player having held talks at Ashton Gate and with other clubs, including Cardiff City, last week.
Keane said: "That one’s up in the air, I think we’ll have more news on Monday. I think it’s going to come to a head one way or the other. The club have had an offer and he’s in the final year of his contract.”
Despite the bid having been accepted, the Blues boss says he has been immensely impressed with Stead while his future has been in doubt: "His performance against Palace was outstanding. We’ve been delighted with Steady, considering there’s been a lot of speculation hanging over him.
"He’s a good example to players in that despite the speculation and what might be happening, he’s kept his head down and he’s showed a good side to him.”
Keane admits that Stead’s exit would leave a gap in his squad and intended to speak to the former England U21 international on their return from south London on Saturday: "If he were to go we’d miss him, but I’ll have a chat with him when he get back tonight. I’m not really up to date on the latest. I’ll speak to our chief executive tonight.”
The Blues boss says in footballing terms he’d prefer Stead to stay, but budgetary requirements mean he has had to allow players to leave when he would have preferred to have kept them: "There are one or two other players we couldn’t really afford to let go. There’s a business side to football.”
Keane says Stead’s exit is something which is out of his hands: "I’m the football manager, I’m trying to manage the football side not the finances. I’m not an accountant, thank God!”
The Town manager is happy with his side's start to the season and will continue to look at strengthening his squad this week, but feels he probably won’t land all his targets: "We’re pleased, but the Championship is a long old road, which is why we need more players.
"We need to get three or four in this week, but I don’t think it’ll happen, so what we’ve got at the moment will just have to keep going.”