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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
Richard Forrester

Ruthless Nigel Pearson reveals he's told some Bristol City players their future lies elsewhere

Nigel Pearson has admitted he has held ruthless talks with some of his Bristol City players over their futures - stating it's now up to them to act accordingly.

The manager has previously gone on record to challenge a number of his players by saying they have up until the end of the season to show that they deserve to be at the club next season.

The likes of Timm Klose, Robbie Cundy, Andy King and Callum O'Dowda are all out of contract at the end of the campaign while others such as Zak Vyner have found first-team appearances difficult to come by in recent months.

Defender Cam Pring is another who has had limited game time recently and was also left out of the matchday squad in the last two matches, although Pearson insisted the decision was "nothing sinister."

However, his team selection over the final two matches of the season, starting with Saturday's game against Hull and ending at Huddersfield could dictate the futures of a number of his players going forward.

Speaking ahead of the game with the Tigers, Pearson said: "There will be players that miss out on the matchday squad due to various decisions.

"I want to win the games. If we can they'll be a few disappointed players but that's how it is, it's nice to get some competition and we're moving in the right direction.

"I've made my mind up on everybody, I'm not going to lie on that part. I've had conversations with some players already so they know where they stand, whether they're going to be here or not or if they're outside the plans at least they will be aware of that before the season finishes so that they can act accordingly, it's just how it needs to be.

"I expect the blend of the squad to be different (next season), whether the team will be different is another thing. There will be changes and the rate of change will be depending on various things.

"Some of it will depend on players moving themselves on. Players who are out of contract - their situation is slightly different but there will be a mixture.

"Of course, there are players who... like Dasilva's situation where around Christmas that was a situation that looks very different to what it is now. That's football it's down to how people approach the challenge themselves and whether they're prepared to meet the challenges or not."

Cam Pring has been left out of the last two matchday squads (Will Cooper/JMP)

When touching on the absence of the versatile Pring, who was a regular in the first half of the season, Pearson offered no assurances that he will feature in the final two matches and admitted centre-back Duncan Idehen is currently ahead of him in the pecking order.

"He's had a really good, breakthrough season in the Championship," Pearson added. "Whether he's included in the last few squads is irrelevant, he's contributed well and he's had some tough times too.

"He's made mistakes but don't all players so I always read with interest the conspiracies with what's happening with these players. Nothing.

"The decisions that have been made are based on whether they will get into the side, if they don't start the bench is never there to make people happy it's to make balance if any changes need to be made.

"I'm afraid it's tough for players who miss out. They have to get used to it and they have to make sure their motivation is to do everything on a daily basis at training to make sure they're in there.

"It's nothing personal, sometimes it might be but most of the time it's about what the team needs. They either need to get on with it or find somewhere else they need to play because it's not going to be here.

"For instance, he (Duncan Idehen) would have got the nod over Pringy last week, that's how it is. Pringy's had some of his best games for us when he's been on the front foot, whether that's as a wing-back or centre back. There's nothing sinister when players are missing."

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