The impact of coronavirus is making it difficult for Ipswich Town to negotiate new deals with out-of-contract players.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ipswich Town owner Marcus Evans (left) and general manager of football operations Lee O'Neill. Photo: Steve WallerIpswich Town owner Marcus Evans (left) and general manager of football operations Lee O'Neill. Photo: Steve Waller (Image: Stephen Waller)

English football has been suspended until at least April 4 due to the outbreak and it remains unclear if or when the current season will be played until its conclusion, or what form the following campaign will take.

The Blues have a host of players whose deals expire this summer, including Cole Skuse, Will Keane, Gwion Edwards, Andre Dozzell and Armando Dobra, with all of those deals including one-year extension options. Typically those extensions must be triggered by the middle of May.

Contracts generally run until the end of June - the target date set by footballing authorities for the completion of 2019/20 - meaning issues could arise should the campaign stretch beyond June 30.

So with football’s immediate future unclear, Town’s general manager of football operations, Lee O’Neill, admitted negotiating those deals and making decisions for the long-term could become more difficult.

“Those are ongoing conversations and they aren’t the things which get left to near the end of the contract before we decide whether we’re igniting, not igniting, recruiting or releasing,” O’Neill said.

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“They are ongoing conversations which happen regularly and will continue to be had.

“Does it add an added layer of challenge? Yes it does because we don’t know when the next season is going to start or finish and we don’t know when this one will either.

East Anglian Daily Times: Paul Lambert takes a sip of water during Town's 1-0 defeat against Coventry City at Portman Road. Everyone's an expert, especially about his job. Photo: ROSS HALLSPaul Lambert takes a sip of water during Town's 1-0 defeat against Coventry City at Portman Road. Everyone's an expert, especially about his job. Photo: ROSS HALLS (Image: Archant)

“To even have discussions about players’ contracts and the length of those deals are really quite difficult until we get further advice on where we’re going to be.

“There are obviously players we want to keep at the football club for an extended period but we need to know what the end of the season and then next season are going to look like.”

Also out of contract this summer are Danny Rowe, Jordan Roberts and Brett McGavin.