Barnsley are closing in on a new chief executive with extensive plans being drawn up for summer signings, says head coach Paul Heckingbottom.
The Reds have been without a chief executive for almost three months since Linton Brown quit in January and Heckingbottom – who dismissed links with the Norwich City manager's job this week – says an appointment is vital as the Reds negotiate players' contracts and hunt new signings.
He said: "We're further down the line with chief exec. I have had updates from Patrick (Cryne, owner) and Maurice (Watkins, chairman). We are further down the road with that. It's coming to an important time and the new CEO will come straight into performing the role and trying to get things done for us."
Josh Scowen and Marley Watkins are both out of contract at the end of the season while the likes of Marc Roberts, who is in contract, are being linked with moves away from Oakwell. Heckingbottom, who has one of the lowest budgets in the league, insists the club cannot afford to make major pay increases to keep their current players.
"We can't spend money we haven't got. "We can't blow our budget on three players, we have to get a team and a squad together. If the player wants to sign a contract, then he signs it. I don't speak to them about it but they know I am there if they want to talk about it. The way around it is to bring other players in, but finances dictate that and it is difficult to do. That is what we have got to be looking to do."
Angus MacDonald has extended his deal for a further year to 2019. The club would like to do the same with other star players to avoid a repeat of this season in which Scowen and Watkins came into the final year of their contract with interest from other clubs as did January departures Conor Hourihane and Sam Winnall.
Heckingbottom refused to talk about the specific future of Roberts and Andy Yiadom but said: "Things are happening all the time and it's private between the club and the player. They are good players and I'd love to keep them. But you can only tie them down if they want to sign.
"There is a gulf in money between us and other teams in this league and players may think that not having a long-term contract with us is a risk worth taking. But it is a big risk because anything can happen with injuries, form and new signings we may make keeping them out of the team, so their value might drop.
"Angus has done well. He was attracting interest so it is pleasing because you want to tie your best players down from a footballing point of view. And from a business point of view, it is good for the club because they think they have got a player who others are interested in."
Heckingbottom says there is plenty of planning going on to recruit new players. "We're just gathering as much information as possible about all the players in different positions then, when we are able, we can move. One thing I have noticed in the transfer windows and I think is really important is that, when we know we want a player and everyone is happy with it, we have to get it done and not mess about."
