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Having lost several key first team players during the close season, including Daniele Dichio, Peter Sweeney, Paul Ifill and Darren Ward, Claridge was quick to dismiss newspaper reports that both players will be joining other clubs before the start of the new Championship campaign.
"Hopefully they will be staying," the new manager told the club's official site. "Matty is very close to signing a new deal, which is a big boost for everybody.
"Barry has never been an issue. Sometimes I read the papers and wonder if the people writing the articles have got better information than I have - and then I realise I'm the manager of the football club, so they can't!
"Hopefully no more players will leave before the start of the season."