Bradford City have opened contract talks with manager Phil Parkinson, the Telegraph and Argus have revealed.
Parkinson's current deal, one signed after he led the Bantams to promotion to League One in 2013, is due to expire in 12 months time, and the club are keen to tie down the man who pursued heavily by Sheffield United earlier this summer.
As well as keeping Parkinson on board, City want to extend the deals of his backroom staff too, all of whom have contributed to the wonderful success the Yorkshire club have enjoyed in the last four years.
Chairman speaks about talks
Speaking to the Telegraph and Argus, one of the club's two chairmen, Mark Lawn, revealed that they have "started preliminary talks with [Parkinson] and his staff," and that they are "hopeful to reach a conclusion very soon."
Lawn continued, adding that they don't just want to keep the manager, but that they "want everybody" as "they work well as a team" and the club "want to keep them together."
Since joining the club in 2011, Parkinson and his team have led the Bantams to play-off victory in League Two and a League Cup final in the same year, as well as some memorable victories in the cups against local rivals Leeds United and reigning Premier League champions, Chelsea.
Lawn realises that the team's "position has gone up each year since [Parkinson's] been here," and the constant improvements under the former Bury player's reign has convinced the club that they must keep hold of him.
The chairman also believes that "talks have gone favourably on both sides" thus far.
Lawn also talks about transfer window
Lawn thinks that a contract renewal with the management team will "[help] with the players" as it means that "they know that, unless something goes drastically wrong, [Parkinson] will be here." On top of this, he believes it is good for the reputation of the club, as it "helps with recruitment" because it allows Bradford to offer "a stable environment" for players "to come in to."
Speaking more about recruitment and Bradford's activity in the transfer window, the chairman said he is confident that Bradford can attract the players they need to bolster the squad before the start of the season. Parkinson has admitted that he is looking to bring in a goalkeeper and a centre-back, as well as two right wingers after Filipe Morais ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament earlier this week.
The chairman said that "people have to understand that footballers do hold out," following news of a defender, who the manager believed was close to joining the club, pulled out of negotiations.
However, Lawn recognises that they only got "[Morais] late last year," as well as "Ben Williams and [Christopher] Routis" - three players he believes "did well for [the team]" this season.
He thinks City need six players before they start their season away to Swindon Town next month, and concluded by saying that if they can find four players that they view "as being quality" then "maybe the other two will be like what [they] did with [Morais] or Routis" - both of whom were trialists this time last year.
City have already made five signings this summer, bringing in three wide men in Mark Marshall, Jonathan Lewis and Josh Morris, as well as a striker in Steve Davies and utility man Tony McMahon.