Coleman contract talks at Fulham drag on

FULHAM boss Chris Coleman hopes to sign a new contract with the club soon, but admits negotiations are beginning to drag.

Coleman declared nearly a month ago that he was close to agreeing a new long-term deal, but the saga continues with just one game of the season remaining.

The Welshman is ready to sign but the stumbling block is his assistant Steve Kean who has yet to thrash out terms which would keep him at Craven Cottage next season.

Coleman will only continue as Fulham boss if he is allowed to work alongside Kean, who was linked with a coaching position at Chelsea earlier this week.

"It's dragging on a bit not on my side but on Steve's," said Coleman ahead of Saturday's trip to Bolton.

Coleman was rewarded with a one-year rolling contract last summer for successfully steering the Cottagers to Premiership safety after Jean Tigana had departed with five games to go.