The in-demand Bristol City striker is set for non-football related talks with Wigan, so says Back of the Net's John Foster...
Bristol City have given Wigan Athletic permission to talk to highly-rated frontman Nicky Maynard, FourFourTwo.com understands, so long as the Premier League side promise to âÂÂstay off the topic of footballâÂÂ.
âÂÂWigan have expressed an interest in NickyâÂÂ, Robins manager Derek McInnes confirmed to our reporter. "WeâÂÂre happy for them to come down and have a chat with him, but if I hear the words âÂÂfootballâÂÂ, âÂÂcontractâÂÂ, or âÂÂtransferâÂÂ, IâÂÂll have to ask them to leave.âÂÂ
âÂÂThere will be no touching, eitherâÂÂ, he added.
A list of approved conversation topics, seen by FourFourTwo.com earlier today, includes motoring, the weather, MaynardâÂÂs recent holiday in Guadeloupe, and the possible reunification of the Sugababesâ original lineup.
An attempt by Wigan boss Roberto Martinez to add âÂÂfishingâ to the list was refused, with City officials suspicious that Martinez would use the opportunity to make reference to MaynardâÂÂs potential strike partner, Conor Sammon.
Similarly, MaynardâÂÂs stated desire to talk to Martinez about his favourite television programme, Dark Wing Duck, was dismissed when Ashton Gate officials noticed that the line in the theme tune, âÂÂwhen thereâÂÂs trouble you call DWâÂÂ, could be interpreted as a come-and-get-me plea to Wigan chairman Dave Whelan.
Wigan have been frustrated in this seasonâÂÂs transfer window, failing to negotiate a move for Dutch striker John Verhoek after he disagreed with Whelan over the best method for poaching eggs, while the transfer of Leeds ace Ross McCormack in early January broke down acrimoniously, with Martinez denying that the phrase âÂÂtaking down the Christmas treeâ was a coded reference to tactics.
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