[Tuck4Bama]

The University of Kentucky expects to formally sign new basketball coach Billy Gillispie to a contract within the next few weeks, school president Lee Todd said yesterday.

Speaking to the Herald-Leader editorial board, Todd said that one issue still had to be settled. He declined to identify the issue.

UK seeks to standardize its contracts with coaches, Todd said, before adding, "each coach has a new lawyer."

Basketball spokesman Scott Stricklin described the time needed to get a contract signed as standard in college athletics. He noted that Alabama hired Nick Saban as football coach in January, but Saban did not sign a contract until shortly before this season began.

"I don't think anyone's concerned," Stricklin said of the holdup in Gillispie signing a contract. "It just takes time."

Gillispie hasn't signed contract