Glenn: I'll Keep Who I Can

Glenn Roeder insists that he will be trying to keep as much of the current squad together as he can for the push to get back to the Premiership at the first attempt.

"I am determined to keep as many of our first team players as I can," he stresses, "as the quality of the team that we put out next year will be key - crucial to our aims."

One of the first issues Glenn will address is the transfer request of Jermain Defoe, and he adds: "I would not want to talk about individual players at the moment but there are a number of players, when they come back on the first of July, that I need to have very serious conversations with about staying at the club and helping us to achieve our target next year.

"After all, we have all gone down a division - the supporters, the players, the manager - and I feel we all need to play a part in achieving our goal next year.

"Whatever happens in Jermain's career I think you will always remember the person that gave you your first opportunity in first team football.

"I certainly remember my manager who gave me my first opportunity at Leyton Orient.

"I have a very open and honest working relationship with Jermain, as with all of the players, and they know that I don't hide anything from them and I think they appreciate that.

"I was obviously aware of what happened the day after we were relegated and before I say anything about that I want to talk to Jermain.

"I will talk to every player as a individual in the first week of pre-season training. I will sit Jermain down as I will with all the players and talk through many issues.

"The issue of asking to leave the club less than 24 hours after what happened the day before is something we will obviously touch base on - but I don't want to be talking publicly about Jermain Defoe until I have spoken to him first.

"He will appreciate that and I feel I do things the correct way which is why I have such a good relationship with the players and I will be talking to them all in the week of July the first when we return to training."

As well as hoping to keep Jermain, Glenn is as keen to retain the other young talent at the club, and he adds: "We have four excellent young players who have come through our academy and will be the envy of most teams in the Premiership.

"I know all four really well now and I have an excellent working relationship with them all.

"They are hugely disappointed about what has happened, and I would like to think that, come the first game in August, all four will be playing."

*Former defender Adrian Whitbread has joined Martin Allen, now manager at Barnet, as a coach, while ex-midfielder Ilie Dumitrescu has taken over as boss of Apollon Limassol in Cyprus.