Last updated at 12:01, Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Carlisle United boss Greg Abbott confirmed Jordan Cook is a summer target – but insisted it’s too early to push the striker for an answer.

Jordan Cook

The Blues boss said it would be wrong simply to “steamroller” in to try to quickly sign the former loan star despite the fact other clubs – including rivals Hartlepool – are already showing interest.

But Abbott did admit he had made it known that he is interested in the 22-year-old, who was a big hit during a 93-day spell at Brunton Park last season.

Abbott – who claimed he was “getting close” to his first signing of the summer – said he would keep tabs on Cook as he digests the news that he has been released by boyhood club Sunderland.

“It’s common knowledge that Jordan’s been here, we think he did well and is a player we’d be interested in,” Abbott said.

“But Jordan has a lot of things on his plate and a lot to digest at the minute.

“The biggest thing to digest is that he has been told he’s not wanted at Sunderland and he’s got to get over that disappointment.

“It’s not great etiquette as a manager to be banging his door down the day after he’s been told that.

“We’ve had to make people know there’s an interest there but in a delicate way. People who steamroller in and show a lack of respect for him and the way he’s feeling at the minute maybe don’t do themselves any good.”

Abbott did reveal he had met four other potential signings and claimed he was “quite a way down the road” with one.

But he admitted it would be difficult to do business until he gets answers from his eight out-of-contract players who have been offered new deals.

“I think we are close to getting an agreement from one player – we had a good two-and-a-half hour char and I think he felt he could fit into the way we do things,” said Abbott, who would not be drawn on the identity of his targets.

“He also seemed to be the right type of person.

“But we are having to tell the truth to players we’re looking at, because if we have a player in his position who is out of contract, and then he signs, then certain conversations will be fruitless.”

Abbott gave his out-of-contract men a 30-day period to make their decisions and insisted he had made “decent” offers to all eight.

That 30-day spell lasts until June 6, with the Blues boss claiming he has “a good idea” on the likely decisions but has not heard from any of the players since he tabled the new terms on May 7.

James Berrett, Peter Murphy, Tom Taiwo, Danny Livesey, Francois Zoko, Lubo Michalik, Frank Simek and Mark Gillespie are all mulling over new deals.

First published at 11:30, Wednesday, 23 May 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk