Fa Barclaycard Premiership News Update

Fa Barclaycard Premiership News
( 02 October 2008 )

English Premiership Football News

Bullard must wait for Fulham deal
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson says he will not offer Cottagers midfielder Jimmy Bullard a new contract, despite his recent call-up of the England team.

Bullard, 29, has two years left on his current deal and Hodgson said: "He does not need a new contract.

"If I was in the final year of his contract and refused to sign, then alarm bells should start ringing.

"If other teams come knocking maybe a different situation will arise, but we are going to do with where it goes."

West Ham, Blackburn and Everton are among the clubs reported to be interested in Bullard, who joined Fulham from Wigan for £ 2.5 million in May 2006.

Bullard more than a year on the sidelines with a cruciata Dislocated kneecap and extensive ligament damage, sustained in September 2007.

But he returned in January 2008 and helped Fulham in the Premier League, for more impressive displays at the start of this campaign earned him a call-up for England's World Cup Qualifiers in September.

And Hodgson believes Bullard should concentrate on maintaining that form rather than to worry about his future.

"He knows that the most important for him to play well enough to place in the England set-up and play well enough to help his beloved Fulham climbing the table," Hodgson explained.

"He knows what he agreed to do so, he is focused on, we are pleased that we have him and we got him for at least the next two years. We will have to worry about the new contract situation as the time to eat."
by bbcnews