MANAGER Kenny Jackett has reiterated Millwall’s determination to keep hold of Liam Trotter despite speculation linking the midfielder with Southampton.

The 23-year-old has been a big hit at The Den since his arrival from Ipswich and his eye catching displays have reportedly alerted several Premier League sides.

Newly-promoted Saints have been the mostly strongly linked over the close season but Jackett says the stories have no foundation as far as he is concerned.

He said: “We definitely want to keep hold of him.

“I have seen the speculation in the papers and I’ve also got to say we’ve had no enquiry or bid from Southampton, nor would we necessarily encourage any because Liam is central to what we are trying to do.

“It shows we are doing something right when our players are linked with other teams but there is a big jump between speculation in the papers and it actually happening.

“Speculation is something which is there all of the time but he is our player.”

Millwall are currently in negotiations with Trotter about a potential contract extension, as well as midfield partner Jimmy Abdou and skipper Paul Robinson.

Jackett was reluctant to be drawn on how those talks were going when pressed but did praise defender Jack Smith after he agreed a new deal which will keep him at The Den until 2014.

The boss said: “We are pleased Jack Smith has settled down and he deserves it.

“Jack has shown a good standard of performance since he has been at the club, has improved and I think still has some improvement in him.

“I definitely think for Jack Smith his best years are ahead of him.

“He is set up now to be a very good Championship player in the next few years and play his best football, so I’m very pleased he has signed the new deal.

“In terms of other players and their contracts it is my policy to only talk on that once things are settled because ongoing talks and discussions about people’s futures are exactly that – ongoing.

“It is pretty much a constant thing where you do have meetings with players on a regular basis to sum up where they are and exactly what their situation is.”

Jackett also explained the summer changes behind the scenes which have seen the likes of Richard Shaw and Tony Burns moved on, with Tim Breacker given a more prominent role at the club and Kevin Pressman coming in to replace Burns as goalkeeping coach.

“Tim was with us anyway working as a scout and a match analyst,” the manager said.

“He will now work a little bit closer than he had been and will perhaps be around our games a little bit more than he was.

“A lot of his work had been scouting and watching the next opposition, now he will be at our games.

“Towards the end of last season he was at our games a lot more.”

Jackett added: “There is always a time for people to move on and for us to get some fresh people, some fresh ideas and some hunger and enthusiasm about our staff, which is very important and what I’m looking for.

“There are always certain individual situations which have to remain personal and private, but from my point of view, we’ve taken on a new goalkeeping coach in Kevin and Tim was working for me anyway.”

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