A KEY step towards building Oxford United’s squad for next season is due to be announced before the weekend.

Head coach Karl Robinson completed meetings with players yesterday ahead of unveiling the club’s retained list.

EFL rules state anyone whose contract expires at the end of the season must be told by the third Saturday in May if they will be offered new terms.

United have nine players in that position, whose futures are about to be cleared up.

UPDATE - The 5 senior players leaving Oxford United this summer 

Robinson last week revealed Curtis Nelson and Rob Hall would be offered new deals, although the latter is far more likely to put pen to paper.

Also read:

Retained lists - Details of players released across the EFL this summer

Both offers are time-limited, as the U’s boss looks to get clarity on exactly what is required when it comes to recruitment in the summer.

He said: “For us to go really aggressively (this summer) we need to be 100 per cent certain of what we have in the building.”

John Mousinho is expected to stay, having hit a specific number of appearances which triggered an extra 12 months in his contract.

When discussing it earlier in the season, the skipper was content to leave it until after the campaign to finalise the details.

He said: “If the club wants it and I want it then it’s there.

“We’ve got that relationship that we’ll just sort it out in the summer.”

United also have an option on Jack Stevens, who made his U’s debut last month.

That leaves five players who appear unlikely to be offered the chance to stay on.

If Stevens is kept on then it would be surprising if Scott Shearer, 38, was also retained.

Charlie Raglan, who spent the second half of the season on loan at Cheltenham Town, is keen to turn it into a permanent move.

“I’ve made it clear I’d like to stay here, given the opportunity,” he told Gloucestershire Live last month.

“I know eventually things will take care of themselves, but I’d like to think I’ve given myself the best opportunity whether it’s here or somewhere else to play more regularly than I have done this season.”

Another player who has been out on loan is Fiacre Kelleher.

A regular in the Macclesfield Town side which stayed up in Sky Bet League Two, the defender looks set to leave United two years after joining from Glasgow Celtic without making his debut.

Up front, Jon Obika is expected to move on after a season wrecked by a knee injury.

Jonte Smith would appear to be in the same position, after making just one brief substitute appearance since signing a short-term deal in February.

PLAYERS OUT OF CONTRACT AT OXFORD UNITED THIS SUMMER

  • Rob Hall
  • Fiacre Kelleher
  • *John Mousinho
  • Curtis Nelson
  • Jon Obika
  • Charlie Raglan
  • Scott Shearer
  • Jonte Smith
  • *Jack Stevens

*Option for additional year