With players such as Jackie Mcnamara, Henrik Larsson and Johan Mjallby out of contract at the end of the current season, O'Neill has admitted that although he would love to offer new contracts he is unable due to the lack of funds at the club.

In the past, O'Neill admits he would already have commenced tentative talks with these players but he has now asked his squad to be patient due to the lack of funds swilling around the club. O'Neill's priority is to thrash out new contracts for those players who are free to leave The Bhoys at the end of this campaign but acknowledges there needs to be some belt tightening.

"I'm sure most of the lads would prefer to know sooner rather than later what the club might be thinking, especially those with under a year ago," opined O'Neill. "So we will sit down and have discussions with all those players in the very near future.

"But on a general viewpoint, I will want to deal immediately with those players whose contracts are up at the end of this season. The ones further down the line will have to wait.

O'Neill added: "Johan has a contract to the end of the season and like everyone when they get past 30, he wants to be fit and play games when agents are holding discussions."

Players such as John Hartson, Chris Sutton and Neil Lennon also have contacts expiring in just over a year.

Can we live without these players? Would Liam Miller be an adequet replacement for Lennon? Is Kennedy as good as Mjallby? Vote in our new poll.

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