City have offered new deals to four players for next season - but another four must hang on until a new boss is appointed.

Craig Bentham, Joe Colbeck, Simon Ainge and Tom Penford have been told they are in the club's plans for League Two.

But Steve Schumacher, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, Richard Edghill and Xavier Barrau have to wait for the manager to be unveiled before discovering if they will be part of the hoped-for promotion push.

"The situation is complicated because we don't know who will be in charge and what their budget will be," said caretaker-boss David Wetherall.

"They know the score and know that we can't do much more about it at the present time."

Wetherall has also spoken to Southend and Nottingham Forest to see how the land lies with loan strikers Billy Paynter and Spencer Weir-Daley.

But he expects Ben Parker to be offered a new contract by Leeds as they prepare for a first year in League One.

Six players have been shown the Valley Parade door and there are few surprises.

Ben Muirhead, who is wanted by Rochdale after his recent loan spell, and goalkeeper Russell Howarth head a list which also contains John Swift, Joe Brown, Patrick McGuire and Nick Smith.

Muirhead did not play a full game last season and Howarth's sole opportunity was in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Colbeck has been the most regular performer of the four with new deals on the table while Bentham and Ainge also made their mark at various stages during the season.

But midfielder Penford had a frustrating campaign and made just one start against Millwall on the final day.

Wetherall added: "Tom has been a bit unfortunate while I've been in charge. He's been there or thereabouts and a lot of the time, although he's not been on the bench, he's been the next one.

"We just feel with all of them being under 24, they are looked upon as being part of the future of the football club.

"And although the situation is complicated by not knowing who the manager will be next season, they were the four we felt anyone in charge would be trying to tie up.

"We are certainly not a club who can look to carry a squad of 30 senior players and we expect the four of them to be in the first-team squad and pushing for starting places."

City's biggest problem in trying to keep Schumacher and Port Vale target Wilkinson would be their wages as they are among the higher earners in the dressing room.