Manager mulling over his options

BACK-TO-BACK wins over Easter will allow Athletic manager Lee Johnson to start drawing up contract offers for next season.

Currently on 47 points, six more at Colchester and at home to Coventry will push the club to safety - which would mean budgets can be put in place for next season’s squad - a squad that can still be influenced, says Johnson, by performances in the remaining games.

“There are some in my mind who are set in stone,” said Johnson. “And there are some still with a bit to do, and some who can impress in the last five games. It’s all up in the air. But we would like to build from a solid group and move forward.

“This season has been far too topsy-turvy for my liking, but the majority of that is down to circumstances.”

In total, 15 first-team players have deals expiring in the summer; five more are at Oldham on loan.

Johnson hopes to keep a core of players and has hinted that things mighe change behind the scenes.

“Now I’ve been here a year and have seen this area a lot more as well, I feel I know what is required to get the best out of this club going forward,” he said. “There will be restructuring next year, to make it streamlined and smoother.”