Nigel Pearson has confirmed that Andy King is set to agree a new contract with the club but Bristol City will continue to wait on Tomas Kalas’ decision over signing a new deal as he explores the free agent market.
King and Kalas’ contracts both expire at the end of the month and Pearson has previously shown a desire to keep hold of the experienced pair. King has become part of his backroom staff as well as proving a valuable squad member with 31 appearances last season in central midfield and centre-back.
Kalas has suffered a season and a half of injury misery but, when fit, remains among the Robins' best defensive performers and a fresh agreement was presented to him towards the end of the season, albeit on reduced terms from the contract he signed in 2019.
As a result the 30-year-old is unlikely to make a definitive decision on where he’ll be playing his football until much later in the month as he assesses the possibilities of earning a more lucrative or appealing contract elsewhere.
“Andy King’s a part of the coaching staff as well and he’ll be staying,” Pearson told Robins TV. “Tomas, with those type of situations, he will do what most players would do when you’re in the situation he’s in, in terms of what we’ve offered him, he’ll be seeing what’s out there too. Which is fine.”
Kalas’ situation is heightened by the fact that City have already recruited one specialist centre-back in Rob Dickie plus Ross McCrorie who can operate in that position and defender Haydon Roberts is expected to follow that duo on a free transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion.
Pearson referenced the departure of Jay Dasilva, who was also offered reduced terms by City and elected to explore options elsewhere earning a four-year contract at Coventry City which is understood to be for a considerably larger financial package than the Robins were willing to offer.
“I have a very open mind on this,” Pearson added. “The players that have left us, people like Jay. I think Jay’s contribution to the club has been really quite remarkable but, having said that, he was in the situation that Tomas finds himself in, and so it’s inevitable that players will exercise their ability to look elsewhere.
“We just wish people like Jay every success in the future. In my time here he’s been a good performer and reliable too. When a player’s time comes to an end, sometimes they get released and it’s almost like a relief, sometimes it’s a situation where you have mixed feelings about it because there’s been an enjoyment side and respect for how you’ve worked with players.
“I just have a very straightforward perspective on this and that’s the biggest thing for us is we continue to develop the team, because the team is what’s most important. Individuals play their role but there’s no one individual who’s more important to the team.”
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