JOE Edwards has revealed that talks have not yet taken place with the five senior Millwall players whose contracts are expiring at the end of the season.
Club captain Shaun Hutchinson, as well as Tom Bradshaw, Ryan Leonard, George Saville and Bartosz Bialkowski’s contracts all end in June this year, allowing them to leave for free.
The five players have a combined 933 Millwall appearances between them and have all been important for the Lions in recent years.
Edwards said the club are not yet at the point where they are in discussion but said he is “aware” of the situation.
Asked if talks were taking place, the Millwall boss said: “We’re not at that point yet. We’re only just halfway through the season in terms of games played. It’s something I’m well aware of.
“First and foremost, these are people before they are players and when I’m having conversations about players just about general things it’s important I have an awareness of the situation they’re in. It’s a sensitive topic, it’s people’s future.
“But in terms of a club and what our strategy will be and what our decision will be and any involvement with the players on a deeper level, it will come soon-ish but not yet.”
Hutchinson is Millwall’s longest-serving current player and has made 252 appearances since arriving at The Den in 2016. Eight years on from joining, the 33-year-old is still capable of producing critical performances as proven by his match-winning impact on New Year’s Day at Bristol City.
Bradshaw arrived eight days before Leonard in the summer of 2018, with both initially signing on loan before joining permanently. Bradshaw has 44 goals in 188 appearances while the versatile Leonard, despite dealing with a series of injury issues, has also proved to be an important player and popular among fans.
Saville initially played for Millwall on loan from Chelsea all the way back in 2013 before joining on loan again in 2015 and then having two permanent spells at The Den with a move to Middlesbrough sandwiched in between. He has made 174 appearances for the Lions.
And Bialkowski won the player of the year award in back-to-back seasons after initially joining on loan from Ipswich Town in July 2019. He has made 169 appearances for the club.
