WITH Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Oxford United bringing the curtain down on York City's season, eight members of the current first team squad now face an anxious wait to see whether they have a Bootham Crescent future.

Manager Terry Dolan has confirmed the eight players from his current first team squad whose contracts run out in the summer are Tom Cowan, Gary Hobson, Lee Nogan, Graham Potter, Christian Fox, Chris Smith, Craig Wilding and John Collinson.

Dolan will find out this week just what sort of budget he will have for next season and only then will the City chief be able to work out who he can retain.

However, with the club still having to significantly cut costs it seems certain Dolan will have to operate with a smaller squad for next term.

And even if he is able to offer fresh contracts to some of the eight players it is by no means certain those contracts will be accepted.

Dolan explained: "Effectively, every player who is out of contract will become a free agent.

"If we do give them new contracts it will be on less money and if you are offered something less then you can claim a free transfer

"To be fair to the players, they need to know that now in case there is an opportunity for them to get fixed up elsewhere."

Despite expected cut-backs, at least one definite addition to the first team squad for next season was confirmed by Dolan.

Defender Stuart Wise, a second-half substitute on Saturday and the club's sole remaining third-year trainee, has been informed he will be offered a professional contract for next season.

Of the club's three on-loan players, it has already been confirmed goalkeeper Michael Ingham will be returning to Sunderland.

However, striker Anthony Shandran has been released by Burnley and fellow forward Keith Graydon is also due to be released from the Stadium of Light.

Both players could be available to Dolan for next season and both were given an opportunity to impress on Saturday when they were named in the starting line-up.

However, Graydon was replaced before half-time and although Dolan said his performance had not completely ruled a chance of a City contract he was clearly far from impressed.

"He wasn't up to it as simple as that," said the City boss. "He was given his chance but he didn't seem to want to take it as far as I was concerned."

Updated: 10:44 Monday, May 05, 2003