DIRECTOR of football Paul Jewell and manager Richie Wellens are working hard to tie goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux down to a fresh contract at Swindon Town, chairman Lee Power has revealed.

Vigouroux, who signed a three-year deal with Swindon in June 2016 following a successful season-long loan spell from Premier League club Liverpool, has been free to talk to interested clubs regarding a move away from the Energy Check County Ground since New Year’s Day.

With his contract due to run out in the summer, Power, Jewell and Wellens are all keen to retain the 25-year-old stopper’s services for next season.

And discussions are already taking place between the parties.

Power told BBC Wiltshire: “I know that Richie (Wellens) and Paul (Jewell) are speaking to him but it’s up to Lawrence now.

“He can talk to other clubs, it’s a difficult situation for Lawrence.

“The situation with previous managers didn’t help, but he’s come back and done great.

“If you were on his side of the fence, you’d be taking your time –and from the club’s point of view, we’d like to tie him down.”

Wellens and Jewell are also keen to retain no-nonsense defender Sid Nelson until the end of the season, despite his loan spell at Town having run out on New Year’s Day.

Nelson, 23, has returned to parent club Millwall in the Championship after suffering an injury during Town’s loss to Exeter City last week, which forced him off the pitch before half-time.

But manager Wellens is keen to ensure that Nelson can help Town’s push for a League Two play-off spot in the second half of the season, and Power claims that funds are available to attract the resolute defender back to SN1 – although he didn’t specify if the club has intentions of landing a permanent deal or simply to extend Nelson’s loan.

“We’re trying (with Sid Nelson). I’ll leave that with Paul and Richie,” said Power.

“Funds are available there – but whatever the guys need, it is there and they are aware of that.

“Like I have done with the previous two managers, I let them get on with it.

“Everyone is aware that we’ve got a budget – a wage bill – that’s probably one of the highest.

“It needs to be spent wisely. Hopefully, Paul and Richie will.”

Power also confirmed that the club’s books – as they stand – do not require Wellens and Jewell to depart with players in order to draft fresh blood into the squad.

He added: “We haven’t got to sell anyone.

“There is none of that, there hasn’t been for the last two (managers).

“We should be doing a lot better. I hope Paul and Richie invest the money on wages wisely. No one has got to be sold.

“If anything, we want to add people to the side rather than take them away.”