last chance for many of the players

After reading in the Nottingham Evening Post during pre-season Nicky Southall and Gary Holt saying they would like to extend their contracts and finish their careers at the club I was wondering if this season could be the last for many of the current Reds players with well over half of them out of contract and depending on which League the Club ends in at the end of the season Colin Calderwood would be surely likely to want to bring in signings of his own with current restriction against him with the current amount of well over 30 in the squad.

Certain players at the club could come under the same fate as the like of Gerrard and Taylor have where the club isn’t willing to resign them on the same terms as their contracts were. This could likely Happen to David Johnson who is still the largest earner at the club with a reported well over £10,000 per week.

This season will give the opportunities to the younger players to stake a claim such as Paddy Gamble who is in his final year of his contract but with the Club only having one Senior Goalkeeper in Rune Pedersen then there is a fairly good chance he will make a few appearances this season in possible cup games and if Rune Pederson is injured or suspended but this could change before the first ball is kicked with Colin Calderwood saying he would like to sign another Goalkeeper.

The same will apply with another out of contract player 3rd team goalkeeper choice Dale Roberts who was on his way out of the club but impressed while on loan at Eastwood Town which persuaded the club to offer him a new one year deal.

Out of favour players such as Neil Harris and Kevin James are back in the fold and have every chance now of playing in the first team, but will have to impress new manager Colin Calderwood.

Kris Commons who was very much hit and mist last season is in his final year of his contract and will no doubt be wanting to impress for a new deal but also other rival clubs who could pick him up in the summer for a small tribunal fee if he couldn’t a agree a new deal.

The young Newcastle signings Ross Gardner and James Beaumont who deals could have been worth up to a million for the club have been build as highly rated players over the past few seasons but will really need to be in the first team by the end of this current 2006/2007 if they are to stand any chance of earning new deals at the club.

Alan Power is in his final year of his contract but will be looking to push on from the reserves and into the first team this season much in the same way as Jon-Paul Pittman, Robert Hughes, Vincent Fernandez and James Cullingworth.

The out of favour trio Nicky Eaden, Gino Padula and David Friio have this season left to impress if they are to remain at the club as does fans favourite Jack Lester with many others which leads me to believe this could be the final season for many of these players for various reasons.

Here is a list of the current out of contract players this 2006/2007 season:

GOALKEEPERS

Rune Pedersen

Paddy Gamble

Dale Roberts

DEFENDER RIGHT

Nicky Eaden

John Curtis

James Cullingworth

DEFENDER LEFT

Gino Padula

DEFENDER CENTRE

John Thompson

Vincent Fernandez

MIDFIELD RIGHT

Nicky Southall

Kevin James

MIDFIELD LEFT

Kris Commons

MIDFIELD CENTRE

Gary Holt

James Perch

Ross Gardner

David Friio

James Beaumont

Alan Power

Robert Hughes

STRIKERS

Jack lester

David Johnson

Neil Harris

Jon-Paul Pittman

Spencer Weir-Daley

RESERVES

Lewis McGugan (mc)

Sam Mullarkey (f)

Matt Galss (f)