COUNTY striker Luke Beckett has turned down Cheshire Sport's offer of a new two-year contract.
Beckett, County's top scorer with seven goals during the current stuttering League One campaign, now looks increasingly likely to be on his way out of Edgeley Park before or when his current deal runs out in the summer.
Beckett told the Express: "(CS chief executive) Niels de Vos spoke to me with the offer on Monday, and I've decided to turn it down.
"Mr de Vos said it's the best they can do, but I don't think it's good enough at the minute. The whole package is just not what I wanted really, but despite that I'm going to carry on.
"I'm still a Stockport County player and I'll be trying my hardest as always against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
"They offered me another two years from July, but the reality of it is I'm 28 now and I feel I've got to try and earn the money when I can.
"The next one will probably be my last good contract so I've got to get the best deal I can.
"I'm sort of in my prime right now, another two years will take me past 30 and so then I might be on a downward spiral.
"Mr de Vos said he won't be coming back with another offer, so unless I'm told any different now I'll just be seeing out my three-and-a-half years at Stockport until the summer.
"The Stockport fans have always stuck by me so I'll be doing my utmost every week from now until the end of the season."
Beckett, who moved to Edgeley Park from Chesterfield in December, 2001, has scored 47 goals in 90 league and cup appearances for County.
In recent months he has been linked with potential bids from many clubs including Sheffield Wednesday and United, and Leeds United.
Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
Fair play to you Luke - you've been a good servant and owe the club nothing. League 2 won't suit your style anyway and you may as well go ASAP and earn the club 50K. Maybe time for Le Fondre to step in - I haven't seen the lad, but I'm told he's got bags of potential. Or how about NDV playing centre half - give the side a bit of Dutch flair..l
I think it's probably the right time for both parties. Luke has been a great servant for the club and we'll miss him but perhaps we've been guilty of trying to build a team around one player for too long. A new strike force could be just what we need, along with a creative midfielder and a no nosense defender.
It pains me to say it but I'm not surprised and for once I'm partially in agreement with the board. I realise that I'm perhaps on my own amongst County fans with this sentiment but I believe last season's injury has finished Luke as a serious threat. The endeavour is still there and he has a born striker's instinct that he will never lose but he has lost yards of pace and runs like he is still carrying the injury. Of course, some will argue that the service this season has been diabolical and I would agree. Maybe it's all that clot McIlroy's fault - I wouldn't be surprised. Luke's been a magnificent servant and he has still scored goals this season in a truly awful team. I guess I am torn personally but as I said before, not surprised. Time to ring the changes I feel. May as well look to the future. Give Le Fondre and Bailey a go. They couldn't do any worse than Feeney who I feel has looked awful this season.