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McAuley urges flying finish to keep boss

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Key defender Gareth McAuley today challenged Albion to convince boss Roy Hodgson to stay by finishing the Premier League season in style.

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Key defender Gareth McAuley today challenged Albion to convince boss Roy Hodgson to stay by finishing the Premier League season in style.

McAuley believes the Baggies' players can play their part in keeping Hodgson at The Hawthorns by showing in the rest of the season that the club is moving forwards.

Hodgson's contract expires this summer and he has so far declined to open talks on a new deal.

McAuley said: "I'm sure the situation will be sorted out in the summer when the gaffer sits down with the powers-that-be at the club and hopefully they will thrash something out. The players are hoping that if we can finish the season strongly and progress that will help the situation.

"We all hope that the gaffer stays because he has improved us as a group and everyone enjoys working with him.

"I'm sure the gaffer will make his own decision but if we can show we're progressing as a club and getting better that would obviously be a positive thing."

Hodgson's future is likely to dominate discussion among Albion fans for the remainder of the season with the club keen to keep the man who led them to a best-ever Premier League finish – 11th place – last season and looks set to deliver safety again this term.

But Jonas Olsson's contract discussions will also be a major factor in the club's summer planning with the Swede set to enter the final year of his current deal.

And McAuley is keen to see his fellow central defender commit his future to the cause.

"Jonas is a huge player for the club and when he is not in the team we definitely miss him, as has been proven," said the 32-year-old Northern Ireland international.

"He's been a great servant to the club and hopefully something can get sorted out to keep him here."

Albion today played down reports in the national media that they are ready to offer Hodgson a £2.5m-per-year deal but insisted informal discussions over his future are ongoing.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid have joined the clubs keeping tabs on Olsson, according to reports from Spain. Galatasaray and Fenerbache are also reportedly interested.

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