Boss remains hopeful that young forward may elect to stay

Steve Davis is hoping to get some sort of decision from Max Clayton and his advisors once the young forward returns from his holiday. Clayton, 19, is out of contract this summer, but has been offered a new and improved three-year deal to entice him to remain with the club.

The England youth international has spent most of the closed season at the club’s training complex and because of his dedication has been granted a few days over the return date. The majority of the squad returned to training yesterday for some fitness sessions with conditioning coach Andy Franks.

The club have received no decision or indication on whether Clayton will re-sign or that another club is prepared to meet our valuation of one of the most talented teenagers playing outside of the Premier League.

The Alex boss said that despite Max’s future still not being resolved, he will remain very much involved with the club’s pre-season plans.

Steve told the club’s official web-site: “If Max decided to stay then we would all welcome that. That is what we want and is why we have made him the best offer we can, to get him to commit his future here for the next few years. We think he would develop and become even better here, playing for us.

“Max came through our Academy from a very young age and he is still very much one of us. He works very hard and has spent most of the summer in the gym and around the training ground.

“If we were to stay with us then he would be a big part of the squad and the team. He would be like anyone else. He would be selected on merit.

“If he turned around and said he wanted to stay then that would be great. That is what we want and until it is all resolved one way or another, he will always be welcome here. 

He added: “I will speak to Max and his agent once he gets back from his holiday to see if there has been any developments. There is no real time limit on it because I will need to look bring in another forward anyway.”