GILLINGHAM’s future is now clear following the dramatic events at the City Ground with the club losing their Championship status.

But for 12 squad members, the future is less certain. The doubtful dozen are all out of contract this summer and only one – Mamady Sidibe – has been offered a new one.

Chairman Paul Scally said earlier this season that new contracts would not be offered until the club knew what division they would be playing in next season.

But it won’t have escaped the players’ notice that Mr Scally set season ticket prices before knowing whether Priestfield would be hosting Championship or League 1 matches in 2005/2006. And many of them could still leave on free transfers even if they are eventually offered new deals.

gives the lowdown on the 12 players still sweating on their future at the club.

PAUL SMITH: The club skipper has been most vocal about the contract situation, warning the club the longer they drag their feet, the less likely he is to stay.

But it seems unthinkable that Smith will be playing in anything other than Gillingham blue. He has been superb since joining the club for a bargain £195,000 in the summer of 1997 – winning a record fourth player-of-the season award for his efforts this season.

At 33, his age may be against him when it comes to finding a new club but his form this season would earn him a contract somewhere if Gills don’t move fast.

JOHN HILLS: The left-back was superb for Gillingham last term but injuries hampered his form in the early part of this season.

Stan Ternent has used him sparingly in a substitute’s role and the 25-year-old, a former Blackpool player-of-the-year, is young enough to start again elsewhere.

He will probably leave if Stan stays.

NYRON NOSWORTHY: The 24-year-old has made 35 league starts this season and is in a strong bargaining position as the club’s first choice right-back.

But the player has stated his ambition to play for Jamaica and could feel his international prospects would be helped by a free transfer to a more high-profile club.

Nyron has been linked with Tottenham and West Ham in the past and may fancy a move to his native London.

BARRY ASHBY: Ashby joined Gillingham from Brentford around the same time as Paul Smith and has also been a superb servant.

Always reliable at the back, the central defender chipped in with four vital goals in the 1999/2000 promotion campaign. At 34, he knows his next contract will probably be his last but it is unlikely that the club will match his current deal.

IAN COX: The central defender has played his best football at Gillingham in former mentor Stan Ternent’s five months in charge and his efforts in that spell earned him the players’ player-of-the season award.

Whether that will be enough to earn him a new deal at Priestfield remains to be seen but he has certainly put himself in the shop window for the Championship clubs.

NICKY SOUTHALL: Southall is one of the higher earners at Priestfield since rejoining the club after an 18-month spell at Premiership Bolton.

Scally is not going to be able to offer the midfielder anything near the same deal, especially as he is still suffering the effects of the collapse of ITV Digital.

BERTRAND BOSSU: The French keeper came to prominence with a fantastic triple save against Charlton in front of the BBC’s Match of the Day cameras in 2003/04.

But despite his FA Cup heroics, Bossu has failed to establish himself as anything more than a back-up to Jason Brown and Steve Banks.

At 24 and standing 6ft 7in, the club might feel he has potential and offer him another deal.

MAMADY SIDIBE: The Mali international is the only one of the 12 out-of-contract players to be offered a new deal by the club. But Big Mama obviously doesn’t like what is in it because he is yet to sign it.

He could just be playing hardball with the chairman or there could be some truth in rumours linking him with Wigan and Sheffield United. More likely for the striker, who scores about once every 12 games, is a free transfer to QPR.

MARK SAUNDERS: Saunders has been a tough tackling midfielder for the Gills since his move from Plymouth in the summer of 1998.

But he has had no chance to impress current boss Ternent because he broke his leg against Preston in the third game of the season.

He has resumed training but will have to hope that, at 34, the club show faith in him.

MATT BODKIN: The Gillingham-born striker was offered a 12-month deal by Andy Hessenthaler last summer but has made just one start and two substitute appearances to date.

His chance to impress has been limited but the club may feel that he is young enough and quick enough to justify offering another one-year deal.

JONES AWUAH: The 21-year-old striker is a product of the club’s youth system but has not played for the first-team yet this season.

DEAN BECKWITH: Another youth-team player who will be hoping for a new contact, despite making just two substitute appearances for the first-team.

Related articles:

Counting the cost of relegation
How the season unfolded
Ternent: my lowest day
Forest v Gills: match report
Forest v Gills: how the players rated