With Barnsley 11 points clear of the Championship relegation zone with just seven matches remaining, manager Keith Hill has begun planning for the 2012-2013 season by offering new contracts to certain players and telling others their services will no longer be required.
Hill, who is set to become only the fourth Barnsley manager to complete a full season in charge in the last 12 years would not expand on who he is looking to keep but was quoted on Barnsley News as saying:
“We have made offers to the players that we want to retain at the football club. We should hear either way in the next three or four weeks.
“I don't envisage there being too many changes to the squad in the summer. "We might well receive offers for some of our players and we will be prepared for that. I hope to retain the players I want. Once we know who is staying then we will know who to bring in. The nucleus of the squad is there and we just need to make a few additions. In an ideal world I would have 20 senior outfield players next season with two senior goalkeepers. “Then I can use the loan market when and if required."
Goalkeeper David Preece is one player definitely leaving in the summer whilst Nathan Doyle, Jay McEveley, Jacob Butterfield, Stephen Foster and Andy Gray are all out of contract at the end of this campaign. It is thought Hill is likely to be keen to retain Foster and Gray but McEveley- who is currently on loan at Swindon with a view to a permanent switch- Doyle and Butterfield are all expected to depart.
The Reds are desperate to keep hold of captain Butterfield but the 21 year old midfielder has so far refused to sign the new deal that was offered to him before he suffered his season ending cruciate ligament injury on New Years Eve.
Source: FOOTYMAD
