The summer: What it holds...

I read an e-mail from a well-respected Notts fan the other day suggesting that every single player- except David Pipe, Tony Scully, Steve Scoffham and Matty Williams- should be told their future lies elsewhere this summer.

The sender acknowledged that Paul Heffernan and 16-year-old David McGoldrick may well not be playing for Notts County through choice, but he insisted that the rest of those out of contract just aren't good enough and shouldn't be retained. He also stated that Stefan Oakes, Paul Bolland, Tony Hackworth, Stevie Mildenhall and even club captain Ian Richardson should be told their futures lie elsewhere.

Paul Heffernan- On his way?

Now, while this may be a little extreme, there is no doubt that there will be more comings and goings then your average summer at Meadow Lane. Here's what we think the future holds for the majority of the first team squad- and it's not good news.

As earlier stated, Heffernan and McGoldrick are the only two players that have- publicly at least- been offered new deals, with Mills making his mind up on the rest in the summer. Heffernan has been offered a deal that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2006, but, with Mills stating that will be that- at least until the summer- it's hardly likely the Irishman will have a sudden change of heart now.

A whole host of clubs are interested in signing the hitman with local rivals Nottm Forest just one of the clubs to have shown an interest. However, we think Heff as more about him then that and- with Tottenham (another interested party) getting a new manager in the summer- it could well mean the buyer comes from an unexpected source, with Preston one of the clubs to look out for.
Either way, it now seems certain the 20-goal striker won't be at Notts next season.

McGoldrick is just 16, but despite playing for the First Team in recent weeks, Notts would be entitled to very little compensation as the young striker is not even on a YTS contract at Meadow Lane. This basically means when he leaves school in June, he is entitled to go where he wants and we're powerless to stop him.

This has alerted a host of higher clubs with Everton, Derby County and Southampton at the front of the queue.

The other Notts County players, however, hardly have the same amount of options as these two.

Baraclough- Likely to be released

Nicky Fenton is the only other out of contract player who may have immediate offers from clubs in the Nationwide League. Fenton was one of the most highly-rated young defenders in Division Two as this season began, after two solid seasons for what is a struggling Notts side, but the 23-year-old has had a bit of a nightmare recently.

Hull City & Sheffield Wednesday were rumoured to be interested in the defender recently, but whether they will be after seeing his recent displays is another matter. Many Notts fans now believe he is not deserving of a new deal.

Ian Baraclough is one of the highest earners at the club and- after being largely out of favour for the majority of Mills' reign- is nigh on certain to be shown the door. Kevin Nicholson- currently on loan at Scarborough- also looks certain to be heading for the exit as he doesn't appear part of Mills' plans. The left sider may well even be on for a permanent move to Russell Slade's Conference outfit.

Recent signings Jonathan Bewers and Mark Briggs have struggled to break into the First Team squad and also seem certain to be released in the summer.

The other players fate are not as easy to guess, however.

Simon Baldry and Stuart Garden have both been first team regulars in recent weeks yet both could well be heading for the exit. While Baldry made a good start to his Notts career he has gone off the boil a bit in recent weeks and his future certainly hangs in the balance. Garden's future is not clear cut purely because of the fact that we don't need three goalkeepers next season.

Simon Baldry- Uncertain future

The other two keepers currently at Meadow Lane, Saul Deeney & Steve Mildenhall, have contracts that take them beyond the summer. This means Garden is surely the favourite to go, though with Mildenhall- along with Tony Hackworth (who it goes without saying, the club are hoping to offload)- is the highest paid player at the club, it could well be the former Swindon keeper who is the man to go, allowing Garden to stay. Confusing stuff!

Tony Scully and Frazer McHugh- both signed in January- are on short term deals until the end of the season and will be sweating on being offered longer deals after being plucked from non-league obscurity by Gary Mills. Scully, who has an ankle injury that'll keep him out for the remainder of the season, has been told that, after a number of top-notch performances, he should be offered a longer deal in the future.

McHugh's future is less certain however and his performances have failed to convince the Notts faithful that he has the quality needed at this level.

The other three players whose contracts at Meadow Lane don't expire beyond the summer are Paul Riley, Tony Barras and on-loan Andy Parkinson.

While it seems certain Parkinson will head back to Sheffield United, the respective futures of Riley and Barras are less clear.

While Barras has been a first-team regular all season the veteran defender still has little chance of being offered a fresh deal if his reason (terrible) form is anything to go by.

Riley had looked to be having his "breakthrough" season after a couple of years on the fringes but the appointment of Mills has seen him fall out of favour and the Nottingham born left back may now be facing an uncertain future.

Those players not mentioned seem certain to be here next season. One thing is for sure, Mills will not shirk any decisions this summer, and he sure has some big ones to make if Notts County are to bounce back at the first attempt.