GILLINGHAM’S out-of-contract players are likely to discover if they have a future with the club sometime this week.

With chairman Paul Scally due back from his holiday in the Canary Islands in the next 24 hours and the management duo of Neale Cooper and Ronnie Jepson also returning from holidays, the next few days should be decision time at Priestfield.

The trio will have to identify which of the 12 out-of-contact players they want to keep and offer deals to.

Striker Mamady Sidibe has already rejected an offer from the club and Nyron Nosworthy and John Hills have said they don’t expect to be at Priestfield next season.

Cooper has indicated he wants skipper Paul Smith to stay but has otherwise kept his cards close to his chest when it comes to what players he wants to retain.

Darius Henderson and Alan Pouton aside, two players not out of contract, Cooper has admitted he does not know too much about Gillingham’s squad.

Jepson, who was assistant to Stan Ternent last season, will guide him on the subject as they decide which players they want and which players they can live without for the coming League 1 campaign.

Cooper said: "We will have a chat about what players we want to keep and offer them deals and it will be up to them whether they accept or not. Until I know what players we will have next season I can’t start looking to bring new players in."