Town boss Joe Royle has set the wavering out-of-contract players a deadline of this weekend to make up their minds whether or not to stay at Portman Road. It has emerged that Fabian Wilnis is hesitating over signing a new deal along with Chris Makin.

Wilnis says: "I have not agreed any deal, much less signed anything, and will not do so until I have sat down with the manager and had a chat.

"There are one or two things I need to talk over with him first."

Royle is becoming frustrated with the situation and is keen to know how his squad stands: "I need the players' contracts to be sorted out by the weekend at the latest.

"I'm quite confident after speaking to Richard and Jim earlier this week that they will sign, but I have not heard back from Chris and Fabian's agents.

"As from Monday we will know exactly where we stand and players, managers and agents will be back from wherever and the serious business of getting players can start."

According to a report, some senior players are unhappy at seeing the squad weakened by the exits of John McGreal and Jermaine Wright to Burnley and Leeds respectively. It is understood that both players faced taking a massive pay-cut if they had signed the new deals they were offered at Portman Road.

Town's financial situation is tight with no Premiership parachute money available this season and the club keeping to the plan outlined in the Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), which targets cutting the annual wage bill to £5 million.

Royle says he will not be making any moves for new players until he is sure who remains from last year's squad.

The exit of Martijn Reuser to Willem II would help the financial situation, despite his expected pay-off, while the departure of the club's highest paid player, Pablo Couñago, would also please Town's money men.

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