Town boss Paul Jewell says there have been no developments regarding the contract talks with Josh Carson and skipper Grant Leadbitter over the Christmas period. The duo now have less than six months on their deals and — along with 14 other players including Carlos Edwards and Jason Scotland — can now talk to other clubs about summer Bosman moves.
Jewell says discussions are ongoing but with progress appearing to have stalled: "Simon Clegg met with [Carson’s agent] Kevin Moran regarding Josh’s contract before Christmas and there’s been dialogue, and that’s as far as it’s gone on that one.
"I spoke to Grant’s agent last week, but I’ve heard nothing since then.”
With so many players having their deals up in the summer, Jewell admits it’s a difficult situation.
He says he plans to speak to Trinidadian pair Jason Scotland and Carlos Edwards in due course with their representatives having asked for talks a few months ago and having received a response but as yet no firm offer of new deals from chief executive Clegg by email before Christmas.
Edwards has previously been linked with the LA Galaxy and we understand other MLS sides could also show interest. Scotland was a target of Blackpool and other Championship sides in the summer and may be on clubs' radar again this month with the Blues perhaps willing to deal if they have brought in some of the additions Paul Jewell is looking for.
Jewell said: "It’s going to be hard to manage between now and the end of the season with players’ contracts up. We will be speaking to them in the future going forward.
"Both of them are 33 [by the end of the season]. We will be speaking to them. We did offer Carlos a new contract last year but he chose to turn it down and carry on on his current contract. It’s not as if we haven’t tried on that one. We haven’t spoken to the players since last year.”
Midfielder Jamie Griffiths has already left the club and is on trial at Colchester with his contract having been up at the end of December, while Shane O’Connor, at Southend on trial, has been told he will not be offered new terms when his deal is up at the end of June.
Jewell says there are other players he has already decided to release but refused to be drawn on their identities, adding that they weren’t necessarily all young players.