BENNO'S OFFER; Town's two-year deal for keeper.

Byline: DOUG THOMSON

IAN BENNETT is close to signing a new contract which could keep him at Town for a further two years.

While the club have parted company with physio Dave Buckby and his assistant Adam Hirst, they are keen to keep hold of veteran keeper Bennett, who might still be turning out at the age of 42.

While Town are expecting to confirm whether utility man Tom Clarke is staying within the next 48 hours and are today due to hold talks over a new deal with striker Alan Lee, Bennett has held fruitful discussions with chief executive Nigel Clibbens.

The result looks like being a 12-month deal with the option of another year, giving the Worksop-based stopper the chance to face former clubs Peterborough, Birmingham and Leeds as he competes with Alex Smithies for a place in the Galpharm club's Championship line-up next season.

Bennett, 40, was keeping the 22-year-old Wembley play-off final hero out of the side until a hand injury forced him off during the semi-final second leg at home to MK Dons.

Smithies replaced him and went on to slot home the winning penalty in the amazing Wembley shoot-out with Sheffield United, the club Bennett was signed from two years ago.

In the long term, Bennett, hailed as a big influence by Smithies, is looking to move into coaching, having begun taking his FA badges while at Bramall Lane.

But now he has the chance to add to his 554 appearances in a career which started at QPR when he was 16.

Meanwhile Town will recruit a new physio after the departure of Buckby, who worked with the academy for nine years before taking over first-team duties in November 2008, and Hirst, who joined the club in 2007.

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