Bristol City have issued Egyptian club Al-Ahly with an ultimatum over Emad Meteb's proposed move to Ashton Gate. The Championship club lodged a formal bid for the 25-year-old striker, thought to be in the region of £1.5 million, earlier this month.However, negotiations are dragging on and City manager Gary Johnson is fast losing patience. City and Egyptian First Division club Al-Ahly were close to completing a deal last week, only for talks to stall over payment of the fee.
Bristol Evening Post

Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock has confirmed his interest in Bristol City's Nick Carle and Mark Yeates of Colchester United. The Eagles are on the lookout for a new midfielder with Ben Watson set to depart Selhurst Park this summer. Carle impressed against Palace in both legs of Bristol City's play-off success over Warnock's troops last month, while Yeates remains a target despite recently failing a medical with the club. Although Yeates needs time to recover from his shoulder injury, Warnock is not ruling out reigniting his interest once the midfielder has recovered.
Sky Sports Online

Brentford FC have been linked with a move for Bristol City right-winger Kevin Betsy. The former Woking, Wycombe, Barnsley and Fulham man would fill a void on the right side of the Bees midfield created by the exits of Ricky Shakes and Charlie Ide. The long-protracted exit of one-time Bees hero Ide was confirmed on Friday when the club cancelled the youngster's contract. He is now expected to sign for Grays.
Hounslow Chronicle

When he sends his team out for the start of the 2008-09 Championship season Bristol City manager Gary Johnson will be demanding an improved showing from players who last term failed only in the Play-Off Final to secure a second successive promotion. The Robins were generally acknowledged to have over-achieved when, 12 months after finishing as League 1 runners-up, they ended the 2006-07 campaign fourth in the Championship then reached Wembley before losing 1-0 to Hull City. Proud though he was of the achievement, however, Johnson - whose side kick off the new season with a trip to Blackpool - has consigned it to the memory bank and says: "We feel we failed, even though a lot of people have said we had a great season. "In many ways it was, but when you get as close (to promotion) as we did it's so near yet so far. Now we've got to enjoy coming back to the Championship, and not to see it as a chore but to be that much more ready."
Football League Official Website