ACCRINGTON Stanley chief executive Rob Heys believes it won’t be until this weekend that the first of the club’s out of contract players announce their decision on their future.

A total of 17 Stanley players are mulling over new offers – and were given an initial 10-day deadline when negotiations began at the end of the League Two campaign.

However, around half of the squad are on a short break in Portugal, paid for out of their own pockets, and don’t return to England until later this week.

With almost his entire squad pondering their next move, it presents an uncertain summer for Reds manager John Coleman, though Heys insists there may be a clearer picture at the weekend.

“We expect to see some developments when the players come back from their break from Portugal,” said Heys.

“We did say 10 days and it we don’t want to give them too much longer.

“John needs to be thinking about pre-season training soon, what positions he’s got filled and what positions he might not.”

Heys revealed that no contact has been made for any of their players aged 23 and under, such as highly-rated duo Jimmy Ryan and Terry Gornell.

Stanley would be owed compensation if a player under 24 joined another club.

Heys said: “If there was any clubs looking to make a contract offer to one of those player, they would have to get in touch with us.”