Hunt to remain a Bee?

Last updated : 06 July 2003 By

Hunt: Improved offer
The future of Stephen Hunt still remains uncertain after the Richmond & Twickenham Times revealed that Brentford have made an ‘improved offer’ in an attempt to keep the 21-year-old.

After turning down the Bees’ original contract offer, Hunt’s availability alerted a number of teams, most notably, Nationwide Second Division club, Brighton & Hove Albion and Nationwide First Division side, Walsall.

However, it is thought that the favourite to secure the Irishman’s signature, Brighton & Hove Albion’s manager, Steve Coppell, is now unlikely to pursue his interest, after confirming the West London club would seek a fee for the wantaway winger.

Speaking on the Brighton & Hove Albion official website, Coppell said,

"Hunt is somebody who I have an interest in".

"I was led to believe that he was going to be a free transfer, but I think that Brentford now want to negotiate a fee. I've really got to weigh up whether I want to go down that route”.

"The tribunal system is now closed - you can't do conditional tribunals now. So if I choose to go to a tribunal, we would have to accept whatever fee was given to us, and in this financial climate I'm not sure that I could put the club in that position."

Hunt himself seems to be hinting that he may stay at Griffin Park.

Speaking exclusively to Bees World, the winger confirmed he would be speaking to Brentford about a new deal if his proposed move to the south coast failed to materialise.