Hatters midfielder agrees contract extension

The 24-year-old has been a key figure since Nathan Jones took over, starting 14 of the manager’s 19 games in charge of the club, scoring superb goals against York and Oxford too.

Lee, who has made 38 appearances in total for the Hatters after joining in August, had penned a deal until 2017 in September, but has been awarded a further 12 months, as speaking to the press this afternoon, Jones revealed: “We’ve renewed Olly Lee and he’s got another year now.

“He’s a good age, wants to learn, get better, will have to get better if he really wants to kick on in his career.

“But he has some wonderful ability. He was one of our most influential players at the weekend again (against Newport County).

“He’s chipped in with goals, chipped in with assists, put a great ball in for Joe’s (Pigott) header, Joe should have scored from that, obviously Jack scored his chance from Olly, so he’s contributed.

“Plus he’s essential to how we play, on the ball, but there’s real, real scope for him to get better and that’s what we like.”

Jones also confirmed that he knows who he wants in his squad for next season and that discussions are now at an advanced stage with those players.

He continued: “Yes, I know who I want to take forward and those conversations will be had over the next week or so, so that we can give them the best possible chances and let everyone know in the right way.

“But a few people know now. We’ve offered contracts to one or two, so we’re waiting for answers back on those.

“We have a plan in place and it’s just about doing the right things professionally.”

The Town boss also reiterated his desire to operate with a far smaller squad than the one he inherited from previous boss John Still which numbered at well over 30.

He added: “In the past where sides have done well, I remember Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth team only had 14/15 players that got promoted and had a real togetherness about them.

“Sometimes it galvanises you, but what we want to do is pick our squad, work with a squad of 20, we have good, young development squad players that can step into the breach and will be pushing for places too.

“But if I can get a squad of 20 players, that I’m really happy with, that I’m delighted with, that I can trust, that I know what I’m going to get from, that I can improve, that I know will want to improve themselves, that’s the goal.”