HAVING informed Ian Wright, John Grant and Ken Griffiths that they will not be offered new contracts, it's time for negotiating with the other out-of-contract players.

I was pleased with the response from four of them: Matt Clarke, Ben Smith, Jamie Pitman and Steve Guinan, who all agreed to re-sign without a moment's hesitation and the formalities are to be completed by the end of this week.

The overwhelming impression I got was how positive they were about the team's prospects of success. Each felt that there was tremendous potential amongst the squad and their thoughts were similar to mine in that a couple of influential and experienced signings would make us into a formidable Conference team.

If all the other players re-sign, we will have a starting squad of 13, which will be added to with the final number being 17 or 18.

I intend to speak to Albano Correia's agent when he arrives back from Portugal. Albano might have something to offer, perhaps the ability to put the ball in the back of the net.

In the case of Ian Wright, he's given a great service to the club for five years and has been a popular character around the place, particularly with the supporters. Sometimes that's where the lack of sentimentality comes into the management role. It doesn't matter what you think of Ian Wright as a person, the professional judgement was that it was not right to offer him a new contract. With regard to John Grant's release, factors other than simply football were taken into consideration.

The day before the Doncaster game I spoke to their manager, Dave Penney, and said that I had no problems with their owner, John Ryan, playing at Edgar Street. He has certainly allowed the Doncaster manager to spend a lot of money and I am told that their wage bill is close to £1million per year. When you are involved with a club to such an extent as Ryan is, I think you are entitled to a moment of glory.

We are pleased to have won the Nationwide Conference's Fair Play Trophy for our excellent disciplinary record. I think that the better sides always have better discipline. I don't think that we have generally been a soft touch but I have always preached to the players that they should avoid getting booked for dissent or retaliation.