The futures of Harry Anderson, Josh Grant and Grant Ward remain uncertain as they near the end of their Bristol Rovers contracts, according to manager Joey Barton.
The trio are among a handful of first-team players coming to the end of their deals in BS7 this summer, with club captain Paul Coutts and player-goalkeeping coach Anssi Jaakkola also out of contract this summer. Their cases are different to the rest with Coutts one of the manager's most trusted lieutenants and he has also effectively taken on a coaching role since suffering a knee injury in March, travelling home and away to assist his teammates and the support staff.
Calum Macdonald is also approaching the end of a short-term deal in signed January, and having made just three appearances since joining from Stockport County, it seems unlikely the left-back will feature in Barton's long-term plans.
Unlike Coutts and Jaakkola, who are in their mid-30s, winger Anderson, midfielder Ward and versatile Grant are in their prime years aged 26, 28 and 24 respectively, meaning their next steps are crucial in their career.
"We’re chatting with them all," Barton said. "There is nothing finalised but the last week kind of accelerates that.
"Some lads might go into the summer and you’re playing that kind of business game. It’s all good and well talking to me on a football aspect, but they all have their advisors and their career to look after.
"It’s important we strike a deal. Those lads have been good citizens and good additions to our group and we’re hoping some of them will stay longer. In the next couple of weeks, we will solidify that."
Both Anderson and Grant have been hit by injuries to varying degrees this season. Anderson has been robbed of any momentum due to a niggling groin muscle issue throughout the campaign, which flared up again and forced him to miss Tuesday's defeat at Shrewsbury Town.
The former Lincoln City man was a key player in Rovers' promotion campaign last season after joining in 2021, scoring six goals and featuring in all but two league fixtures. With Barton ruling him out of Sunday's final game of the season against Bolton Wanderers, Anderson may have played his final game in the blue and white quarters if a new contract cannot be agreed.
Anderson's injuries have limited him to just 12 league starts this season, but he doubtless will be held in high regard by Gasheads if his time at the Mem is drawing to a close.
Last month, Barton said talks over the player's future had reached an "impasse".
"Harry is struggling again with his groin and he’s had a little bit of a setback," Barton said this week. "He was getting a scan and I will chat with the physio to see how he got on and I will have a chat with H.
"He’s a bit down at the minute because he’s had no luck with injuries this season and it’s tricky for us to sign a player who is injured. We want players who are fit, robust and ready to go.
"H has been a great servant here. We’ll sit and have a chat with him and his agent about the future and what he wants to do, but we will need to see his scan and what the prognosis is there.
"Hopefully we get a bit of news on that soon and we can make a call, but he is probably going to be injured for the game on Sunday which is so disappointing for him because he is so keen to get in and show us that he’s fully fit, but it just hasn’t played out for him this season that way."
Grant's season, meanwhile, barely got going before he was forced to have surgery on both knees to address long-standing issues that have affected his availability throughout his three years with the Gas, making just a brief substitute appearance at Burton Albion in August.
The road to recovery has been long – with his comeback delayed by a muscle problem sustained in training last month – and Barton has been eager to see him back involved.
The manager has previously said Grant is his "favourite player" in the squad due to his tactical acumen, but Barton acknowledges there is plenty to consider as contract talks continue with the former Chelsea prospect and his representatives.
"No, not yet," Barton replied when asked if there had been any progress. "I will chat with (head of football operations) Eddy (Jennings) and (CEO) Tom (Gorringe) on that.
"Josh is another one who had a bit of a groin issue and I think he is due to be back on the grass with the lads this week, so that will probably be Friday or Saturday.
"We will have a chat with him and his agent and we’ll make a call. The problem is, you’ve got to find the right deal for the football club. We’ve got to protect the owner and the fans from having a lot of money tied up in a player who isn’t fully fit all the time.
"Players in that category don’t want ‘we’ll pay you that much if you’re fit and, unfortunately, we’ll pay you this much if you’re not fit’. They always want guaranteed money.
"Hopefully we can find a compromise and a deal with them because they are good lads and, when fit, they are really competent and good players.
"It’s a decision for the CEO and the business aspect of the club and those players and their agents will want to find the right financial package."
January signing Ward has proven to be a fine addition, ranking among Rovers' best players in the second half of the season. Barton has previously made clear his desire for the former Blackpool and Ipswich Town midfielder to stay beyond this summer, but talks are ongoing.
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