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Boss: Promotion party may sway Zoltan

Posted on: Tue 06 May 2008

TONY Mowbray says he will do everything in his power to keep Zoltan Gera at Albion and hopes today's Championship-winning scenes will persuade him to sign a new Hawthorns contract.

The Magic Magyar's current deal expires next month - making him a free agent - and the Baggies boss claims whatever Gera decides he will wish him well.

But now that promotion to the top-flight is secure, Mowbray revealed contract talks will come to the fore.

"Zoltan intimated to me that he wanted to get this season done and out of the way," said Mowbray.

"Talks will begin in earnest now.

"I'm sure Zoltan and his advisors are looking to see what suitors he's got out there.

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"And because we're in the age of Bosman, he is well within his rights to do that.

"If he decides his future is elsewhere, I will shake him by the hand and wish him good luck.

"But I think the scenes today, both on the pitch and in the dressing room, will make it a tough decision if he ultimately decides to leave our football club.

"What I know is that we will endeavour as hard as we can to keep him.

"The players respect and believe in him, the management team does and obviously the supporters do as well.

"Footballers are footballers and if someone offers him something that is more suitable at this stage of his career, then I will wish him well.

"But we hope he will stay."

Mowbray also echoed those sentiments in relation to Kevin Phillips and Martin Albrechtsen, whose current Hawthorns deals are also due to end.

"They will decide their futures," Mowbray added.

"We will make them offers we think are fair in terms of the balance of the squad and where we see them in the squad.

"The bottom line is that it's down to their advisors.

"I can't put a gun to their heads and make them sign.

"This is a business.

"What I've tried to engineer in this club is a spirit and camaraderie so players want to be part of something and hopefully enjoy their football.

"Zoltan has got into double figures this season and Kevin has once again scored over 20 goals.

"I hope they appreciate they play in a team that supplies the ammunition for them and is good for them to play in.

"If they want to be a part of that then great, if not, there will be no falling out."

Mowbray was also quick to rubbish speculation linking Albion with a move for Heerenveen midfielder Michael Bradley.

"I'll shoot that down now for you," he said.

"It's not true.

"He's not a player on our list or someone we've even thought about."

PIC: ZOLLY GOOD FELLOW...Gera lifts the Championship trophy

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