Brentford boss Andy Scott reckons he is winning the battle to secure the services of Alan Bennett after the defender started pre-season training with the Bees this week.

The 27-year-old, on-loan at Griffin Park last season, is effectively training for free after his Reading contract expired at the end of the season leaving him a month’s severance pay in his pocket.

Bennett, who's defensive partner Mark Phillips signed a new one-year contract this week, held talks with Scott at his home in Ireland last month and played a full part as Brentford kicked off preparations for the forthcoming League One campaign.

Scott insists he will not rush the centre-back - a linchpin of last season’s League Two title winning team - over putting pen to paper on a permanent deal at Griffin Park, with the Irishman at a critical point in his career.

The delay is not said to be over the value of his contract and the manager is confident a spell training with the club this summer can persuade Bennett the Bees can match his footballing ambitions.

“Either way he needs to be fit for the start of the season, so we have given him the opportunity to do that here,” he said.

“It is a good sign he is here and a testament to how much he enjoys being with this squad.

“It has never been about money for him. we have only ever talked about football and what we can do for his career.

“It is a big decision for him at this stage of his life, hopefully we can impress on him our ambitions when he sees the players we have brought in and I’d like to think he will be part of it on a full-time basis.”

Meanwhile, Scott has less than two weeks to agree a fee with Notts County for winger Myles Weston or risk the deal being struck via a tribunal.

The 21-year-old former Charlton Athletic trainee has agreed a contract with the Bees after catching the eye last season and the manager is confident the club will pay a fair price.

“Tribunals were set up to make sure clubs that develop players were compensated properly for that when they move on,” he added.

“Myles was developed at Charlton and only really got his career going last year.

“We believe the money we have offere adequately takes that into account and that he is coming to a club where he can develop further.”