Bristol City boss Lee Johnson gives Luke Freeman a contract ultimatum By a_stockhausen | Posted: January 14, 2017 Head coach Lee Johnson has delivered winger Luke Freeman with a contract ultimatum. A target for Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers, Freeman has been offer a new deal at Ashton Gate. But the 24-year-old Londoner has yet to put pen to paper and commit his future to the club and . Speaking after City's 3-2 home defeat to Cardiff, Johnson explained why he took the decision to leave Freeman out of the squad. He revealed: "The contract is there for him to sign, but he has not signed it yet. In a derby, I could not risk any lack of commitment. "We still live in hope that he will sign that contract, but we cannot wait forever. We're keen for Luke to stay, but it remains unresolved. "January can be a destabilising time for clubs, because it's a time when agents make their money. They'll do anything to achieve that and it doesn't help." As things stand, Freeman has a decision to make and is unlikely to be selected until he signs the deal that is on the table. Robins majority shareholder Steve Lansdown has briefed Johnson on the situation and the club will not risk Freeman, who is out of contract in the summer, leaving for nothing at the end of the season. Johnson added: "The objective is for Luke to stay, but there always comes a tipping point and the owner has made it very clear what the boundaries are in terms of the contract and the fee if we decide we want to move him on. "I suppose the good thing for Luke is that he has two clubs that are very interested in having him. One is a club that will enable him to move closer to home, the other is the club at which he made his name and has improved year after year. "He is loved by the staff, the players and the fans, but we have to do the right thing for Bristol City first and foremost. Luke must decide, because the offer won't be there forever." QPR had an initial bid turned down last week, but manager Ian Holloway is keen to bring Freeman to Loftus Road and the London club are sure to test City's resolve with an improved offer before the transfer closes at the end of this month. In the meantime, Freeman will remain on the side-lines until he makes a firm decision either way. http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/8203-b...ct-ultimatum/story-30057931-detail/story.html
If Freeman won't sign a contract, plays and then gets injured for the rest of the season, he then leaves for free. So who's fault would it be in this situation? Unlikely to happen but sometimes it does.
