Glenn Hoddle has scotched any suggestion that he might be using 'delaying tactics' over Wolverhampton Wanderers' bid to land him on a longer contract.
Hoddle, who has been at Molineux since early December on a short-term, six-month deal, has only this week opened talks with Wolves over a long-term deal.
His apparent reluctance to commit his future to Wolves has led to speculation that he might be monitoring developments at clubs closer to his Berkshire home.
West Ham United have been linked with Hoddle, not that he is understood to be interested in them. And his record of just one defeat in 22 matches for Wolves is also believed to have alerted Premiership outfit Fulham.
But Hoddle had an encour-aging discussion with the Wolves board before a charity tribute dinner for Sir Jack Hayward at Molineux on Tuesday night. And he has been quick to point out that this is ahead of schedule, and that he is not simply waiting for a better offer.
"The fact that I've brought the talks forward knocks that idea on the head," said Hoddle. "If that was the case I'd be saying I'm still not going to speak to the club about it.
"We'd always said we'd talk only at the end of the season. Talks are progressing, let's put it that way. And we've moved very quickly within a week.
"For me, though, the immediate priority is to end the season on a high, maintain our unbeaten record and finish as high as we can with two wins under our belt."
In that respect, Hoddle's mission to maintain Wolves' 15-game unbeaten record at Reading tomorrow has been badly hindered by injury problems.
Skipper Paul Ince (calf) and in-form defender Lee Naylor (knee) are big doubts, while Carl Cort (calf) will miss out again. And, in a week when Hoddle has already lost Mark Kennedy to a knee operation, he could be down to as few as 16 men in his squad.
If Naylor fails to make it, Rob Edwards looks like having to swap from his more accustomed right flank to play at left back. And loan man Rohan Ricketts will be competing with Kevin Cooper for Ince's place in midfield.
It left Hoddle anxiously monitoring the reserves' fitness following yesterday afternoon's 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United at Kingston Park. But Joachim Bjork-lund, Sammy Clingan and Academy graduate Chris Cornes all came through.
Hoddle has again been denied the chance to pitch in exciting young midfield prospect Mark Davies, due to an untimely injury to the England Under-17 captain.
"Rotherham last week had been pencilled in for him," said Hoddle. "And it's unfortunate that he's picked up this injury at a time when he was due to be going off with England."
