KEITH Millen is adamant Bristol City will do everything in their power to keep hot-shot striker Nicky Maynard at Ashton Gate.

City's record signing became one of only three Championship players to score 20 goals in all competitions this season when he netted twice in Saturday's 2-1 home win over Derby County. He has scored 19 in the league and one in the Carling Cup. Only Cardiff's Peter Whittingham, has scored more in the second tier – with 20 in the Championship and three in other competitions – while Scunthorpe's Gary Hooper has, like Maynard, scored 20 goals.

Maynard's exploits are likely to attract interest from Premier League clubs during the summer.

But caretaker boss Millen, who will hand over the reins to new manager Steve Coppell after next week's final game at Blackpool, issued a warning to potential suitors when he said: "It will take a massive offer for us to even contemplate allowing Nicky to leave. Of course there will be interest in him, because he has scored 20 goals. It's not rocket science to work out that Premier League managers will have a look to see who the top goalscorers in the Championship are.

“Obviously, we do not want to lose Nicky. The chairman paid a lot of money for him and he has shown why we paid that money.

“We cannot worry about it until something happens, but it would take a fantastic offer for the chairman to be tempted. Nicky is happy here, we want to build our squad and I would be surprised if he was not here at the start of next season.”

City paid Crewe Alexandra £2.25million for the Cheshire-born striker’s services in July 2008.

There is sure to be speculation regarding Maynard’s future, but he has made it plain he intends staying put.

Speaking to reporters after the Derby game, he said: “I love it here, I’m enjoying my football and I fully expect to be a Bristol City player next season.”

Although Coppell was not at Ashton Gate on Saturday and is not due to officially take up his post until May 11, the Liverpudlian is already stamping his authority on first-team affairs.

Appointed successor to Gary Johnson last Thursday, Coppell ordered a change in formation before jetting off to the United States on a two-week holiday.

Millen said: “Steve called and asked me if we could go back to a flat back four for this game.

“He left me to pick the team, but we discussed the shape and the tactics and decided we wanted to go with a back four. We feel that is the way for us to go next season. Perhaps five at the back is not an ideal way to play if you want to win promotion.”

Millen will be in almost daily contact with Coppell over the next two weeks and he revealed: “Steve is a happy man, because he’s taking over a team which is finishing the season well.

“We said to the lads this was more than an end-of-the season game and there was a lot riding on it. Now everybody can go away for the summer feeling happy and go into pre-season on a high. Very often that carries on into the following season.

“With a bit of tinkering here and there, we can, hopefully, be better next year.”

City lost Danny Haynes to a thigh strain near the end of the first half and the striker is a major doubt for next Sunday’s showdown with Ian Holloway’s play-off chasing Blackpool.