Players given Pompey fate timeframe

That is the message delivered by Mark Catlin to the 15 players whose Fratton Park deals expire this summer.

Contract talks have been on hold since the turn of the year as the Blues focus on escaping from League Two.

Those affected include Gareth Evans, Kyle Bennett, Enda Stevens, Michael Doyle, Jack Whatmough, Amine Linganzi, Liam O’Brien, Ben Close, Stanley Aborah and Brandon Haunstrup.

The loan stays of David Forde, Eoin Doyle and Aaron Simpson will also expire.

Finally, there are first-year professionals Calvin Davies and Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain.

And Pompey’s chief executive expects decisions to be announced once the outcome of this season is known.

Catlin said: ‘In fairness to everyone, what we have tried to do is keep it consistent.

‘Privately, the manager will already know in his mind what he wants to do.

‘But we are not going to be making any decisions on players until we know where we’ll be next season.

‘We didn’t want to offer contracts to some and not others because that can lead to discord in the changing room, so have stuck to our principles on that.

‘The day our future is decided for next season, whatever that may be, we will sit down with the players and have discussions almost immediately.

‘It’s ultimately up to the manager and, as ever, we will support him in what he wants to do.

‘At this moment in time he will have a good understanding of the players he wants to keep in the relevant league.

‘Then we will sit down with them pretty much as soon as we know our fate.’