Steve Coppell has told goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann to concentrate on keeping out opponents rather than moaning about a lack of a new contract.

The 35-year-old American voiced concerns earlier in the week that his current deal, which ends next summer, has yet to be renewed but Coppell insisted there are no plans to dip into the coffers until Premier League survival has been assured.

He said: "You need to know his personality - he needed to get it off his chest and thump his chest a little bit. He has done that now but it doesn't affect what we are going to do.

"We will continue to do things the way we always have. We won't bow to any kind of pressure like that.

"If he was in his mid-twenties then the chances are he would be on a long-term contract but he is not, he is in his mid-thirties. So we are not going to commit without knowing exactly where we are going to be. Nothing will be done until that situation is resolved.

"Our thoughts are concentrated on maintaining our status and until that is done we can't make long-term decisions."