There will be no contract negotiations with any Reds players until after the club know which division they are playing in next season.

 

The decision has been taken because the club don't know how big their wage bill will be until they know if they have been relegated from the Championship or not and also to avoid sapping morale.

 

Chief executive Ben Mansford told the Chronicle: "The team is currently the most cohesive it has been all season and we don't want to upset that by entering into negotiations with any individuals."

 

Manager Danny Wilson added: "We have looked at ifs and buts for the summer but that's all they are at this stage.  From the players' point of view they have to be focused on the job in hand and not what might happen in the summer. Nothing's been decided."

 

Wilson announced last week that he expects to be Barnsley boss next season and says it is important that the players now know that. He said: "It means there's no uncertainty and what they are looking at is the Barnsley manager for next season."

 

The out-of-contract players at the end of the season include Stephen Dawson, Jim O'Brien, Martin Woods, Liam Lawrence, Tomasz Cywka, Jacob Mellis, Kelvin Etuhu, Emmanuel Frimpong, Paddy McCourt, Iain Turner and several youngsters.