Michael Bailey Norwich City defender Gary Doherty admitted he is still some way from agreeing a new contract which would see him at Carrow Road next season. The 28-year-old Republic of Ireland international is out of contract next month and with City boss Glenn Roeder having already released nine of his first team squad, he can ill afford to lose anyone else.

Michael Bailey

Norwich City defender Gary Doherty admitted he is still some way from agreeing a new contract which would see him at Carrow Road next season.

The 28-year-old Republic of Ireland international is out of contract next month and with City boss Glenn Roeder having already released nine of his first team squad, he can ill afford to lose anyone else.

Skipper Mark Fotheringham is also in talks over a new deal at Carrow Road and as Canaries fans wait to see who will stay and who will go over the coming weeks it is still far from certain that Doherty will be appearing in a yellow shirt come August.

“We're still in negotiations. In fact I haven't really spoken to Glenn for a couple of days. They have made me an offer and I have gone back with another, so it's just a case of trying to negotiate,” said Doherty, who said he still saw his future at Carrow Road.

“I think so, at the moment. I'm not actively looking to move so we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

“You don't want it hanging around for six weeks but if that is how long the negotiations take, then that is how long. Obviously, with the situation we were in, the gaffer said he wanted to keep these decisions until we knew which division we would be playing in, so it's just a case of thrashing something out.”

The Irishman only has Jason Shackell for company in the Canaries central defenders club, and Doherty believes the summer is hugely important for City.

“We need a lot of new faces,” he acknowledged. “The squad is at the bare minimum now he has released a few and now he is obviously looking to bring in his own players. We'll probably need 10 or 11 new signings, so hopefully he'll get in good ones and make us a stronger squad.

“The summer is going to be important. There will be lots of team bonding, which we've already done quite a bit off since the manager has come in and hopefully we'll have preseason together to get people in and out and get to know everyone.

“That is important - but if they're good players, they will always be able to settle in well. Next season is going to be a fresh start for everyone.”

But overall, Doherty was happy with his performances last season, having made 39 appearances over the course of City's, at times, traumatic campaign.

“I thought I was playing really well until I had my hernia injury last year. It was frustrating to then be out, but I think I came back and finished the season strongly.

“But even when we were being hammered every week, we still weren't conceding many goals. It was really 50/50 between being happy with how I was playing and disappointed to get that injury.”