Decision Time For Sturrock

New Plymouth Argyle manager Paul Sturrock faces an important month ahead as he decides the future of most of his playing squad.

Sturrock will have 14 players out-of-contract next summer and will want to move some players on when the transfer window re-opens in January rather than wait until June 2008.

Three players have already left the club in recent weeks, strikers Reuben Reid and Cherno Samba have had their contracts cancelled while on-loan French defender Larrys Mabiala has returned to Paris Saint Germain but that still leaves 14 players whose futures are undecided.

Of course some players will want to leave Argyle and not wait for Sturrock to wield the axe and it’s very possible that deals have already been lined up with other clubs.

It’s also likely other clubs will swoop for players who have long contracts, Argyle’s race for a play-off place in the Championship will not have gone un-noticed and other clubs will cast envious glances at Sturrock’s star players.

But Sturrock can still wheel and deal and sort out the players who have six months left on their contracts.

So who are the 14 out-of-contract players?

French midfielder Nadjim Abdou is in his first season in English football and has done well, becoming a fixture in Sturrock’s team.
Chances of staying at Argyle: 80%.

Young striker Ashley Barnes was discovered playing non-league football with Paulton Rovers by Ian Holloway. Barnes is on-loan at Oxford United and has made one substitute appearance for Argyle.
Chances of staying: 10%.

Striker Nick Chadwick has struggled with injuries since his £250,000 transfer from Everton in 2005. League One side Crewe Alexandra have twice tried to sign the Stoke-born player and it’s likely that Chadwick will finally join them in January.
Chances of staying: 5%.

Right-back Paul Connolly has been at Home Park for seven and a half years after coming through the youth system. He might decide it’s time to move on.
Chances of staying: 60%.

Left sided player Ryan Dickson is currently on-loan at Brentford and has played just 7 games in four years at Argyle.
Chances of staying: 10%.

Mat Doumbe was signed on a free transfer by former Argyle boss Bobby Williamson and has spent three and a half years at Argyle but has struggled to gain a regular first team place in recent months.
Chances of staying: 20%.

Striker Barry Hayles has already been the subject of an offer from Leicester City and it appears that the 36-year old will team up with Holloway once again in January.
Chances of staying: 30%.

Double Championship winner Lee Hodges has defied the odds and is still a first-team player after being signed by Sturrock in 2001. A good squad player who could be rewarded with a new one-year deal.
Chances of staying: 60%.

Scott Laird is another youngster who has gone out on-loan after hardly figuring for the first team at Argyle.
Chances of staying: 20%.

Goalkeeper Romain Larrieu has been at the club since 2000 and is still the first choice custodian and should be offered a new two-year contract.
Chances of staying: 80%.

Young striker Anthony Mason is on-loan at Bridgwater Town and hasn’t yet played a first-team game for the Pilgrims.
Chances of staying: 20%.

Veteran midfielder Lilian Nalis did previously say that last season would be his last in professional football but after winning the Player of the Season award the Frenchman decided to sign a new one-year contract.
Chances of staying: 10%.

Luke Summerfield has surprisingly been included in the first team squad in recent games after hardly figuring over the last 18 months. The 20-year old midfielder has notched up 31 games in three and a half years.
Chances of staying: 50%.

Club captain Paul Wotton has been out of action for the last year after suffering a serious knee injury. The Plymothian is a favourite with Sturrock and is expected to sign a new one-year deal.
Chances of staying: 90%.


What player do you think will stay?

Have your say and take part in our poll: Which Out-Of-Contract Player Will Stay?

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