Ashdown in no rush to sign new contract

By Mark Sugar
May 27 2004

Jamie Ashdown has told the Reading Evening Post he is no rush to sign a new 2 year contract at the Madejski Stadium.The out of contract goalkeeper has been linked with moves away to Portsmouth and Norwich City.

Jamie Ashdown has told the Reading Evening Post he is no hurry to sign a new deal at the Madejski Stadium.The out of contract goalkeeper has been in fantastic form since returning from a loan spell at Rushden and Diamonds.He said;

“I’m still thinking about what to do. I definitely want to be No. 1 here at Reading, but the contract has to be the right one for myself.

“I think I performed very well when I came in at the end of the season, but I don’t know if I would start next season.

“Marcus has a bigger reputation than me and that might work against me. I don’t know. I have not spoken to Steve Coppell about it.

“It’s a tough decision and I have to make the right one. I’m umming and aahing at the moment, but there’s no rush as we still have five weeks to go until pre-season training.”

Ashdown has been linked to newly promoted Norwich City but that looks to be out of the question because City have today signed Scottish goalkeeper Paul Gallagher.But Portsmouth remain a threat with Harry Redknapp looking to strengthen his squad as they prepare for another relegation battle next season.Former Royals goalkeeper Shaka Hislop is Number 1 at Fratton Park at the moment,but doubt's will be raised at Hislop who is 35 years old.