CHRIS LAKEY Glenn Roeder has put players' contract talks on hold as he negotiates Norwich City's path to safety.Darren Huckerby, Gary Doherty, Dion Dublin and skipper Mark Fotheringham are some of the big-name City players whose deals end this summer.

CHRIS LAKEY

Glenn Roeder has put players' contract talks on hold as he negotiates Norwich City's path to safety.

Darren Huckerby, Gary Doherty, Dion Dublin and skipper Mark Fotheringham are some of the big-name City players whose deals end this summer.

But Roeder says there is too much riding on the present to start talking about the future - yet.

“At the moment we have our hands full of so many other things that just take priority, which is making sure we gather enough points as quickly as we can to put ourselves into a much safer position,” said Roeder, preparing for today's home clash with Wolves.

“Once we have done that then that will be the time to talk about contracts - whether the player's contract is up in the summer or whether he has only got one year after this one.

“Contract talks couldn't be further from our thoughts at the moment. Everything in life is timing and it is not the right time. We want to make sure we do the job first that we have to do and then we can sit down and talk to all the different guys that are out of contract during the summer and the ones who have only got one year left after this one.”

While Fotheringham's and Doherty's services are likely to be required, Dublin is expected to retire in the summer at the age of 39.

Huckerby's future is unclear: the striker has suggested he may stay on for one more season, although reports last weekend linked him with a move to North America Soccer League team LA Galaxy.

Out of favour Ian Murray and goalkeeper Paul Gallacher, currently on loan at Dunfermline, are out of contract next summer, and both are unlikely to play a part in Roeder's plans.

Julien Brellier and Simon Lappin, who appear to be similarly sidelined, have another 18 months left on their contracts and will no doubt be involved in discussions.

Striker David Strihavka, who has played just 11 minutes of first team football since Roeder took charge at the end of October, signed a four-year deal when he joined City last summer, effectively tying him to the club until the summer of 2011.

Roeder has decisions to make on half a dozen other players - most of who have been unable to hold down a regular first team place.

Brothers Ryan and Rossi Jarvis, Robert Eagle, Bally Smart, Andrew Cave-Brown and Matthew Halliday will all be out of contract in the summer - and Roeder indicated yesterday that some could be on their way out of Carrow Road.

“All the time I am learning about the players and I will have the final say whether they are going to be offered a new contract or not,” he said. “Some will, for sure, and there will be a few that won't. But at every football club that is the revolving door of football.”