Peter Hill-Wood has said he is hopeful that Arsene Wenger will stay on with the club as coach, but admitted that his future hung in the balance.
LONDON: Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has said he is hopeful that Arsene Wenger will stay on with the club as coach, but admitted that his future hung in the balance.
The Frenchman has one year left to run on his contract and the transfer of star striker Thierry Henry to Barcelona has cast further doubts on whether he will sign a new deal.
Henry had said that the departure of chairman David Dein and the uncertainty surrounding Wenger's position were key factors in his decision to leave Arsenal, but Hill-Wood said he was doubtful.
"I am not particularly worried about what Thierry said but whether it really influenced his decision or not we will have to wait and see," he said.
"We certainly don't think Thierry Henry going and Arsene Wenger's contract situation are in any way linked. That was just an excuse."
Hill-Wood said that he hoped Wenger would remain at Arsenal, even if he does not sign a new deal this summer.
"I am really hopeful he will extend but at this moment I am only in a position of hoping," he said.
"I've no reason to think that he won't but at the same time I have no reason to believe he will say yes. Certainly we would like to see him sign a new contract - we have made no secret about that.
"But we have not talked any details about anything with him or the board. We will wait and see what he wants to do. Then we can sit down and discuss things if he is positive about it. I am very relaxed. We are in good shape."
Hill-Wood also said that Arsenal were still keenly watching the transfer market and would be eager to sign a player or two.
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