Long admits future is out of his hands

Ireland striker Shane Long has admitted that he will have to move on if West Brom want to sell him.

As speculation has increased over the last six months, the Tipperary man has kept his counsel and carried on playing for the Baggies as Hull manager Steve Bruce has followed up his bid in January with another that appears to be acceptable to Albion. Much has been written about the club waiting for new manager Pepe Mel but as team coach, he will have little influence. The Baggies have a further year option on Long’s contract that expires in the summer but negotiations over the past 18 months with his advisors appear to have reached stalemate. “I have always said I’m happy and settled here and I’ve got family who like living in the area,” said 26-year-old Long, whose wife confirmed via Twitter they felt at home in the English midlands.

“We will see what happens and what clubs come in and whether it’s a good prospect for me, but if West Brom want me to stay, that’s probably what I’ll do.

“But I suppose if a club doesn’t want you, what’s the point in staying? It’s business, at the end of the day, and we’ve got a lot of options up front. If they do want to let me go, we’ll deal with that hurdle when it comes, or if it comes, but at the moment I’m a West Brom player and that’s all I’m concentrating on.

“I’ve heard nothing. In the transfer window you’re going to hear rumours but no-one has said anything to me so I’m concentrating on playing.”

Hull discussed a £6m deal on Friday with West Brom officials and it is understood the first payment would be £4m with £2m extra if certain conditions are met. Tigers manager Steve Bruce said: “There is a new manager that has gone in and there has been a conversation at boardroom level — it never goes manager to manager now.

“We have to wait until we know if he is available or unavailable and I’m sure we will find out in the next few days.

“I’m never privy to boardroom talk but the indications are that we might have a chance.”

A move to Stoke would have meant the Long family could have remained in their current home but the Potters initial interest came to an end when they learnt of the Baggies asking price.