Supporters Continue To Wait For News On Bully

Last updated : 22 May 2008 By Stray Shots Team
Reporter Charlie Oliver has this week explained that the future of Nikki Bull is still hanging in the balance.

Speaking to the local media on Wednesday Bully said, "I was offered a new contract by the club a week after the end of the season and I rejected it.

"We sat down again and the club offered me an improved contract — and the figures involved were put to me by the club, not vice versa — which I accepted."

However, with Bull ready to put pen to paper last Thursday, he received an unexpected call from club Chairman John McGinty, saying that the contract offer was being withdrawn by the club and that he was free to pursue other avenues.

This sparked specultion that the Shots hero was to leave the club although nothing official was announced by the club.

"The Chairman wished me luck but I was shocked and devastated at the news, especially after six years' of service to the club," continued Bull. "The club told me that they would put out an official press release to explain what had happened but I heard nothing at all over the weekend, bar a call from Gary Waddock on Monday morning to wish me the best and hope there were no hard feelings."

Indeed, both Waddock and McGinty confirmed to the Aldershot News on Monday lunchtime that they anticipated a press release on Bull's future to be released that afternoon.

That release was apparently primed and ready to go, but a second dramatic change of heart meant that it was not issued because it was felt that any release would bring closure to the Bull-Aldershot love affair, from which there would be no return and many people within the club — McGinty included — still wanted Bull to stay, if the right terms could be found.

"I've subsequently been told by the Chairman that he felt the contract I had agreed to was just too much money and, after further thought, he simply wasn't comfortable with it. But it was a figure the club had come up with, not me. I didn't ask for another penny."

With another - although somewhat reduced offer on the table, Bully said "When I heard the club wanted to speak to me again and that the door was still open — I had several calls on Monday and yesterday — I did expect that any new offer would honour the last one. But this latest deal includes less money than the one before.

"But I will have a think about it, I'm really not too sure."

John McGinty confirmed Bull's version of events. "Nikki and I have held discussions at length today about the terms and conditions of his contract.

"What Nikki says is absolutely true. It is less than what was offered before, but it is still a very good contract for him." McGinty added that the deal that Bull first accepted was withdrawn "because of financial reasons".

For the full article, click on the link below:
http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/sport/s/2028658_bull_will_he_stay_or_will_he_go