Contract calls for Latics 13

PAUL BLACK: Improving all the time, the left-back seems certain to be offered a new deal. Black has had poorer moments this season but has usually come back strongly, competing in a two-way battle with Cedric Evina. The 20-year-old, born in Middleton, has come through the Boundary Park ranks.

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EXIT DOOR MAY OPEN FOR ATHLETIC STARS
A SUMMER of big changes to the playing staff could be in the offing at Boundary Park, with no less than 13 players approaching the end of their current permanent contracts.
Manager Paul Dickov has spoken of his desire to build a tighter squad for next term, with quality more highly concentrated throughout — a tough task on what is likely to be a highly restrictive budget given the club's troubled finances.

Among those without terms in place for 2011-12 are Deane Smalley, who is banging in goals on loan at high-flying Chesterfield in npower League Two, goalkeeper Dean Brill, left-sided duo Paul Black and Cedric Evina and midfielder Ritchie Jones.

In addition, five loan players will return to their parent clubs at the end of Athletic's season. Of those, three — Jean-Yves Mvoto, Oumare Tounkara and Neal Trotman — have deals which expire in the summer.

The players whose Athletic futures are in doubt are:



DEAN BRILL: Back in the side and keeping clean sheets, the ex-Luton stopper fell out of favour in mid-season when he was replaced by on-loan Manchester United 'keeper Ben Amos. Regained his spot when Amos was forced to return to Old Trafford, but it could well be that Dickov decides to turn elsewhere in search of a number one.



JOSH OLLERENSHAW: An unwise Facebook rant circulating on the late payment of wages didn't sit well with the club hierarchy and the goalkeeper appears unlikely to stay on at the club. Ollerenshaw has had loan spells this season with non-league clubs Mossley and Salford.



ANDY TODD: Brought in to provide experience and a no-nonsense attitude to the centre of defence, Dickov's former Blackburn team-mate has been shut out recently by the return of Jean-Yves Mvoto to the side. The 36-year-old's chances for next season depend on how valued he is perceived to be behind the scenes.



REUBEN HAZELL: Athletic's captain for the season has had his best games when playing alongside Mvoto and has been a settled fixture in Dickov's first-choice line-up. The 32-year-old's know-how at this level may be the passport to a renewed deal and a fifth season with the club.



ROD McDONALD: Has barely had a sniff of first-team action since joining from Stoke, restricted to one substitute appearance against Shrewsbury in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. McDonald has had loan spells with Stafford and Nantwich and is unlikely to stay on.



CEDRIC EVINA: The former Arsenal trainee hasn't quite nailed down a guaranteed place in the side, but has looked very impressive in patches — particularly when employed on the left wing. Young and with time to improve defensively, Evina is a player Dickov clearly rates and is likely to be offered a new contract.



RITCHIE JONES: A patchy first season saw the ex-Manchester United trainee impress initially with some energetic displays on the right side of midfield, before a crisis of confidence meant he missed out on selection for a good chunk of the season. At his best, Jones is a very effective player at this level — but the jury has to be out on whether he will get a second chance to prove his worth.



LEWIS ALESSANDRA: Back in favour at the start of the season, the 22-year-old promised much operating wide on the left wing. Since then, injuries and a loss of form have contributed to Alessandra — who missed almost all of last season with ankle ligament damage — seeing precious little first-team action and he may not have done enough to be kept on for another season.



PHIL McGRATH: A player who has been desperately unlucky with injuries, the Northern Irish wing man will be hoping for another chance to show what he can do after seeing this season ruined by a ruptured cruciate ligament and torn cartilage in his knee back in August.



FILIPE MORAIS: It took the Portugal-born winger a long time to sign a contract with Athletic, but he is clearly a player Dickov rates highly. The technically-accomplished former Chelsea trainee has an option built in for next season and if the player himself is happy to stay on at the club it is difficult to envisage his departure.



REUBEN REID: A distinct lack of fitness — and a surprising one, given he arrived from Premier League club west Brom — meant it took Reid a long time to get into his stride. The former Rotherham player had been on the fringes before he earned the right to start against Charlton with a smartly-taken goal at Notts County. An option is built into Reid's current contract and if his improvement continues it is likely he will be asked to stay on.