Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett hints at change in contract stance on Ronan Curtis, Christian Burgess & Co
Kenny Jackett has urged Pompey’s out-of-contract players to ‘wait a little longer’ to address their futures.
Christian Burgess and Ronan Curtis, who both netted in Saturday's 4-2 triumph over Barnsley, are among nine players whose existing deals expire at the season’s end.
Currently no talks are taking place, with Pompey maintaining their policy of focusing on promotion ambition.
As a consequence, all contract discussions are on hold, with Luke McGee, Brett Pitman, Oli Hawkins, Lee Brown, Adam May, Brandon Haunstrup and Matt Casey the others affected.
However, Jackett has hinted the stance could change when the season enters February.
Pompey's boss said: ‘While nothing has been cast in stone, there are some people out of contract, but we still feel exactly the same.
‘At the moment, with January still to end, let’s concentrate on Lincoln, concentrate on Sunderland, make sure we can get those things right and individual situations will just have to wait a little longer down the road.
‘I wouldn’t say we are going to do it then, then or never, but right now the next five days are big ones so let's concentrate on them.
‘We are aware of all of the contractual situations, it’s not like we just decide not to think about it, we do.
‘But we feel, in terms of individual situations, there can be a fluctuation in form while we negotiate.
‘Those things just have to wait maybe a little bit longer, exactly when I don’t know. It’s not cast in stone, but certainly it won't be before Sunderland.’
In the case of Curtis and Casey, the Blues posses the option to extend their deals by 12 months.
Meanwhile, should Haunstrup depart, the club would be entitled to compensation considering his age and home-grown status.
Jackett added: ‘We want to kick on and close the gap, being one of the main contenders if possible, that’s where our focus is.
‘Individual situations and contracts just have to wait. If you are asking me exactly when, I don’t know.
‘We have given ourselves a chance, there are games coming up, we have to concentrate on those.’