CITY have opened discussions with Phil Parkinson over a new deal, the Telegraph & Argus can today reveal.

They are also looking to tie down the future of Parkinson's management team, including assistant boss Steve Parkin and head of sports science and fitness Nick Allamby.

The club have been encouraged by initial talks and hope to have something in place before the new campaign kicks off at Swindon a fortnight today.

The three-year deal that Parkinson and his coaching staff signed following City's play-off promotion runs out at the end of the season.

City are keen to get the situation sorted early so it does not become a distraction.

Joint-chairman Mark Lawn said: "That's why we are now talking to Phil. We've started preliminary talks with him and his staff.

"It's obviously not just Phil, we want everybody. They work well as a team and we want to keep them together.

"I think talks have gone favourably on both sides and we're hopeful to reach a conclusion very soon."

Parkinson is the sixth longest-serving manager in the country since replacing Peter Jackson in the Valley Parade hot-seat in August 2011. He is the first City boss to manage more than 200 games since Trevor Cherry.

Lawn believes that stability is a big factor in the club's season-on-season improvement in that time.

"I think it helps with the players because they know that, unless something goes drastically wrong, he will be here," said Lawn.

"I think it also helps with recruitment because people know they are going to have a stable environment to come in to.

"It helps with the fans as well. They know what type of football they are getting and either buy into it or they don't.

"Our position has gone up each year since Phil's been here. If we continue to improve year-on-year, then we'll be in the play-offs."

Parkinson's recruitment drive is far from finished. A centre half and goalkeeper remain key targets and he is looking for two right wingers after losing Filipe Morais.

Lawn reckons City need up to six more players before the end of the transfer window on September 1 – but he is confident that there are decent targets still out there.

He said: "People have to understand that footballers do hold out. It's their wages and their living and no matter how much football fans want you to sign everybody whenever you can, that's not how the business goes.

"We got Filipe late last year and it was the same with Ben Williams and Chris Routis. All three of them did well for us.

"If we can pick up four that we look on as being quality, then maybe the other two will be like what we did with Filipe or Routis and sign late on."