SWINDON Town head coach Jody Morris admitted he is currently unsure of his playing budget for next season and revealed conversations with senior players whose deals are set to expire have not yet started.

Charlie Austin, Jonny Williams, and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy headline the list of nine contracted players who could walk away for nothing in July.

Although, Marcel Lavinier and George McEachran have options to extend their stay which are held by the club, and Tom Brewitt will see an automatic one-year extension triggered if he reaches a certain number of games played – thought to be 10.

Town sit 11th with just four League Two matches remaining and no hope of reaching the play-offs, as they managed last year.

But despite the clarity regarding the level Swindon will be playing at, Morris seemed to suggest the club are behind in terms of planning for a promotion push in 2023-24.

Morris said: “There are conversations that need to be going on, both with the club and the individual players, but those haven’t started yet.”

Asked if it was a bit late for those conversations to have started or not, Morris said: “I don’t know. It depends on who you’re trying to satisfy.

“For me, there are quite a few things that need to be discussed at the football club to see what the budget is and what we’re capable of.

“Where we’re at right now, I’m not too sure. We’ll have to see where that goes.”

It was then put to the Town boss that it sounded like it’s a little bit up in the air right now in terms of him knowing what sort of resources he will have to work with next season.

Morris replied: “Yeah.”

Morris has long called for more experience to be added to his squad after the club’s recruitment strategy – set out by owner Clem Morfuni – brought the average age of the squad down by around a year since last summer.

Discussing his ideas for signings this summer, Town’s head coach once again suggested players with a solid number of professional games under their belt would aid the club’s quest to gain promotion.

Morris said: “I have my views on how the group can be more balanced from a tactical and experience aspect which I believe will give us the best opportunity to win football games.

“I suppose it’s then about how we get around trying to achieve that squad. There are a lot of variables that come into that, but I have my views on what we need and where we need to improve throughout the club.”