Danny Grainger, Dan Hanford and Steven Rigg agree new deals
Carlisle United Football Club can confirm that defender Danny Grainger, keeper Dan Hanford and striker Steven Rigg have agreed new deals which keeps them at Brunton Park until the summer of 2016.Meanwhile left sided player Patrick Brough, midfielders Brad Potts and Kyle Dempsey and forward Mark Beck have also been offered new contracts but are yet to put pen to paper.
"We offered seven players new contracts," Keith Curle confirmed. "Three of them have signed and there are a few bits and pieces still to be ironed out with one of them.
"Danny Grainger, Steven Rigg and Dan Hanford have all accepted their contract offers. They've all bought into what we're trying to do at the club. I've incentivised their contracts and given them a slight increase in their basic pay. Without giving too much away, if Dan Hanford keeps a clean sheet he will be financially rewarded. If Steven Rigg scores goals and we win games he will be financially rewarded.
"It's a win-win situation because we want to give players money but we want them to earn it. If they're earning it that means the football club is getting rewards by climbing up the league. The more successful we are the more fans will come and watch us. The more people who come and watch us the more money we can give to players. The starting point for all of it is in that changing room."
"There are one or two things that need to be ironed out with Patrick Brough, but he's close," he continued. "I've spoken to his agent and there a few things he's speaking to the club secretary about.
"We're still waiting to officially hear back from Brad Potts, Kyle Dempsey and Mark Beck. I think they've been given their offers but they're negotiating with their agents. I had an outline discussion with Kyle Dempsey's agent but, unfortunately, Kyle hadn't signed the paperwork to give the agent full representation. I told Kyle to get his agency agreement signed first of all because otherwise it would be like me going into a room and speaking to absolutely anybody about a player's personal details."
"We've offered these contracts and the players are well within their rights to seek guidance and advice from their agents," he said. "That's part of the negotiation process. Just because we've offered them a contract doesn't mean they have to sign it. They can negotiate and if any of their agents would like to come in and meet me, I will be happy to do that.
"That's how negotiations work, but we do give them a time frame and then the club can retract the offer if nothing is resolved."