McMann was my POTY this year. Getting 2 players better than him in that position is going to be challenging.

He is of an age though where this would have to be his "big contract" so perhaps that has been the thinking....the cost to quality maybe didn't add up fully.

Optimists will look at this as a sign that we will have quality identified to come in. Pessimists will think it is a worrying sign of our budget if we are not keeping McMann as a squad player.

I am a football optimist to a fault normally, but can't help but feel a little pessimistic this time