MANAGER: It will be gradual

“We are still in negotiations with Joe and we feel the contract offer in place will give him the opportunity to fulfil his potential,” he said. “His approach as a professional is excellent and there is much more to come from him. 

“In my mind his development isn’t complete yet because he’s still coming back from an illness which knocked him sideways. He’s responded positively through his time with us and that’s why he’s been given this extra incentive. It’ll be gradual with him, but he’ll get more and more game time as we go on.”

And on the loan move completed at the weekend which took Cumbrian teenager Patrick Brough to Lincoln City, he said: “Patrick is at a stage where he needs game time. He’s acquitted himself very well in training and he’s now gone to a very good football club to help his development even more. 

“Lincoln had done their due diligence and they’d even spoken to Tom Miller to get a personal recommendation. It’s good that it’s happened because I think he will learn a lot from this move. We didn’t want him to stagnate and stand still here, because he hasn’t been involved in the cut and thrust every week, but this is by no means it is us shutting the door on him. 

“It’s a means of opening another avenue to help him develop both personally and with his football. He’s now out of his comfort zone and he will have to establish himself and his personality at a new club. It can be the making of young lads when they do this, and I’m sure it will be of huge benefit to him.”