Blackpool defender discusses his contract situation

Blackpool Gazette

Blackpool defender Matthew Pennington is out of contract at Bloomfield Road in the summer, but does have an option for an additional 12 months.   The defender discusses what impact that situation could have, and how he reacts to it.

Transcript

00:00You mentioned hitting the 30 mark and football being a short career.

00:03You're one of the players without a contract in the summer, even though you've got a year option.

00:07Do you feel like you're playing for every contract when that time comes around?

00:10Do you know what? I've actually always felt like that.

00:13I've never felt settled in a contract.

00:17I've always felt like in football you need to show what you're about every game

00:22and that doesn't really change to earn the next contract.

00:26It's kind of conditioned in you from a young boy.

00:29If you think about when you're in the academy, myself from 11,

00:34every year you're trying to earn the next contract and trying to stay in the game.

00:38That doesn't change.

00:40Even though you can say I'm 30 now, I'm still trying to get another year in the game

00:44and stay in football and keep going with my career.

00:49That's how I approach it and probably is the easiest way to approach it for me

00:54because I don't have to change any mindset.

00:56How much do you think that mindset has benefited you and affected your game throughout your career?

01:01I think it's probably helped that as a footballer sometimes it's easier just to think short term,

01:07the next game, because like we've said before, things can change so quickly.

01:12If you're thinking too far ahead, you can end up tripping over yourself with your own thoughts.

01:17I think the best thing to do is to focus on what you can do today,

01:20what you can do in the next game and then that will stand you in good stead moving forward.

01:24Is there a potential decision in your future?

01:26Is that something at the back of your mind?

01:28Is that something you've come across with? Any talks?

01:30No, I've had it a couple of times where I've been out of contract in the summer

01:34and you can never know what's going to happen.

01:38Things can change so quickly and you can't actually decide what you want.

01:43You have to just wait and perform like you do every game.

01:47Come the end of the season, that's when you make the decision,

01:49because most of the time it's out of your hands anyway.

01:52The club either wants to extend the option or you have options elsewhere

01:58and you have to just pick what you've got.

02:00It's not like you can pick a team and say,

02:02I fancy going there or I fancy moving here or I fancy staying near home or whatever it is.

02:07You just see what happens, play your game and then make the decision when you can.

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