Blackpool contracts won't be handed out in the short term

The contracts of Alex Fojticek, Ollie Turton, James Husband, Luke Garbutt, Nathan Shaw, Grant Ward, Sullay Kaikai and Gary Madine all expire this summer.

The Seasiders do, however, hold the option to extend the deals of Fojticek, Husband, Ward, Shaw and Kaikai should they wish to do so.

Last month, Critchley told The Gazette the club wouldn’t look at new contracts until the January transfer window closed.

Now that is the case, discussions have taken place and the matter is being considered, but new deals are unlikely to be handed out until Blackpool’s league position becomes clear.

“It’s been tough to start discussing that because we don’t get a lot of time between games,” Critchley told The Gazette.

“It’s something we’re aware of and we know who is in and out of contract at the end of the season, so we have to start to prepare and plan for next season.

“That was part of our planning and thought process in January, so that will become more prominent in the next few weeks and months.

“In terms of new contracts being offered, that will possibly happen a bit later on. We need to see in the next six to eight weeks where we’re going to be standing in terms of our results.

“I don’t think that would be straight away, it’ll probably be a bit closer to the end of the season.”

Madine, one of those out-of-contract players, is currently out injured with a groin complaint.

The 30-year-old had been carrying the niggle recently, but has been missing for Blackpool during the past two weeks.

All being well, Madine – who has played a vital role for the Seasiders this season – could be back for this weekend’s game against Peterborough United.

“Gary has had some injections in his groin, so we have to allow that to settle down,” Critchley said on Monday.

“That should settle down this week and then we’ll have to step up his rehab from there.

“He will then be back on the grass and we’ll see how he goes, but he has to have a few days where he just rests and we can do some strengthening work in that period of his body.

“Will he be back for Saturday? We’re unsure of that at this moment in time.

“People react differently after they’ve had injections and that was a few days ago now.

“There’s always an injury to treat but there’s also a person to treat as well.

“Some are good healers, some aren’t so good, so we still have optimism for Gary for the weekend.”

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