Skipper Jim Magilton has been given more time to consider his future after receiving a player-coach offer from another club. The squad were back at the club yesterday ahead of the start of pre-season training on Monday when Fabian Wilnis, Dean McDonald and Jimmy Juan will sign their deals.
TWTD reported last week that the 36-year-old was on the verge of quitting the club, but the Northern Irishman has now asked Joe Royle for longer to consider his decision: "The skipper loves this football club and was leading the boys around the training ground on the first day back in training on Friday with as much enthusiasm as ever.
"But he's asked for a little more time to make a decision on what is a crucial year for him.
"He's 36 and at a crossroads in his career really. He has to make up his mind whether he wants to carry on playing or move into coaching, or perhaps try and combine both and that is the big question for him at the moment.
"It's got nothing to do with the playing side here because as I said, he loves this football club. He has to look at what's ahead for him.
"He's had a serious offer from elsewhere to take on a player-coach role and has asked me for a little more time to weigh up in what direction he needs to go over the next 12 months.
"I hope he stays because he's a terrific player and has been a great influence on the team since I've been here, but we will give him the time he needs to make that decision."
Wilnis and McDonald are set to sign new one-year contracts, while Juan will join on a season-long loan from Monaco.
Young winger Jaime Peters is expected to put pen to paper when he returns to Portman Road once Canada are knocked out of this month's CONCACAF Gold Cup. Peters will be hoping to add to his seven senior caps at the tournament in the USA.