Newell keen to keep duo

Mike Newell insists Luton will not sell Steve Howard or Kevin Nicholls on the cheap.

Luton boss Mike Newell admits that Kevin Nicholls and Steve Howard could leave if the club receive the right offers, but insists they will not sell the duo on the cheap.

Newell is keen to keep hold of his captain and centre forward, but both men have just 12 months left on their contracts and have yet to agree new deals.

Leeds had a bid for the duo rejected by The Hatters, while Norwich have been keen on Howard and Wolves have cast an eye on Nicholls.

Newell says he will not be forced into selling the duo despite the fact they could leave for nothing next summer.

Although the club would be forced to think about selling if the right offers come in, Newell says that they will not let either player leave cheaply.

"Everybody has a price - that's the situation we're in," Newell told the club website.

"If that valuation isn't reached, then nobody's going anywhere. We're not the type of club that stands in anybody's way if they want to go, but they're contracted to us, and as far as we're concerned they're staying here.

"We're not in the business of giving players away, and if no-one matches the valuations they're staying here.

"We'll try and speak to them about new contracts. We want them to stay, but you'd have to ask them what's in their minds. Howie has already run down his contract once."