ABDOULAYE Faye will be rewarded for his role in Hull City's promotion with the offer of a new one-year deal at the KC Stadium, the Mail can reveal.
After captaining the Tigers in their dramatic return to the Premier League on the final day of the season, Faye is one of a dozen out-of-contract players awaiting a decision over the long-term future.
The 35-year-old defender was quick to express his desire to remain at the KC Stadium for a top-flight swan-song and manager Steve Bruce is now ready to oblige with the offer of an extension.
It is understood Faye has played enough games to trigger the offer of another one-year contract and will be offered fresh terms to remain with City in the coming days.
That appears to be a formality and will see the former Senegal international looking forward to Premier League football for the first time since his exit from Stoke in 2011.
The reward is especially pleasing for Faye after he was denied the same chance last summer.
Despite helping West Ham United to promotion through the Championship play-offs 12 months, he was a victim of the Upton Park summer clear-out that brought about his free transfer to the KC Stadium.
Bruce's move for Faye has been fully justified and despite two injury lay-offs the veteran finished the season with 33 league and cup appearances to his name, as well as four goals.
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Such was Faye's form during the final month, with Bruce labelling him "absolutely immense" after the 1-0 win over Middlesbrough, he was handed the captain's armband in the absence of Robert Koren and Jack Hobbs for the final two games.
Faye's retention for next season, as well as a promised contract extension for fellow defender Paul McShane, continues the first phase of Bruce's rebuilding work this summer.
Liam Rosenior and Jay Simpson are the two other players from Saturday's starting XI awaiting a decision, but the remaining out-of-contract players appear unlikely to remain.
Paul McKenna, Seyi Olofinjana, Mark Cullen, Jamie Devitt, Danny East and Sonny Bradley, who all spent the closing months of the season out on loan, will almost certainly depart, while veteran defender Andy Dawson is also braced to end a 10-year association with the Tigers. Goalkeeper Mark Oxley is the other first-team squad member who could move on.
"I'll sit down with the managing director to draw up a plan and we'll sit down with the owners next week," said Bruce.
"The immediate plan is to discuss the players who are out of contract and start looking at the squad we'll have in place for next season."
City are keen to retain on-loan Sunderland star Ahmed Elmohamady if a £1.5m deal can be agreed, but their pursuit of David Stockdale will hinge on Fulham's asking price. Should they stand firm on a £3m valuation, the Tigers could be forced to look elsewhere.
