Surrey’s chairman, Richard Gould, has confirmed the club want to hang on to Kevin Petersen once the severance of his ECB central contract is complete

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Feb-20140:00

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Surrey are preparing to offer Kevin Pietersen “a good market rate” to retain his services once the severance of his ECB central contract is complete. Pietersen’s England deal was due to run until October but his representatives have been negotiating a pay-off, in conjunction with the Professional Cricketers’ Association.Pietersen’s England career was effectively ended by the ECB on Tuesday when it announced he would not be considered for selection. As a centrally contracted player, Surrey were not required to pay him a salary but Richard Gould, the club’s chief executive, said that discussions to prolong the 33-year-old’s stay were planned at the earliest opportunity.Agreeing the termination of his England deal would free Pietersen up to play a full season in the IPL and, while he may be reluctant to return to the UK for Division Two Championship cricket, he is settled living with his family in Chelsea and thought to be open to a limited-overs arrangement.”We know that he really wants to continue playing for Surrey and he knows we are really keen for him to continue doing so,” Gould said. “Over the next week or so we will work together to try and make sure that happens.Surrey hope to retain the services of Kevin Pietersen once his England contract ends•Getty Images”We need to make sure we can offer a ‘KP’ a good financial package as well as the knowledge that he belongs to a club that really values him and wants to see him play.”Pietersen has developed good relationships at Surrey, who he joined in 2010, and was at The Oval giving a coaching session to team-mates on the day of his controversial sacking by England. He will likely command a hefty fee in next week’s IPL auction, in light of his extended availability, and could also be a target for the Caribbean Premier League, which clashes with the latter half of the English season.”We are doing well commercially and we could afford to pay above that salary cap but the rules of the game mean that we’re not allowed to.” Gould said. “There is competition from the Caribbean Premier League, who have a three to four week tournament, but I just need to make sure we can offer Kevin a good market rate for his services that keeps us within the boundaries we need to remain within.”