Speakman outlines next steps in Cats’ looming contract calls
group."
Sunderland's plans are complicated significantly by the impact the salary cap would have if they were to fail to win promotion.
When the rules were put in place last summer, the EFL addedatransitionalclausethat meant all players who signed a deal previous to the introduction of the cap would see their salary calculated at a League
One average rate.
MostofSunderland'ssquad arebeingcalculatedatthatlevel this season, but in reality are earningabovethat.Whenthey signanewdeal,therulesmean their salary will then be counted in full.
"There'll be some tough decisions in there because we're moving through this transition from our old way of working outside of the salary cap to workingwithinthesalarycap," Speakman said.
"I think the players and their representatives know that as well, a lot of players are in that transitional bracket where they're currently earning above the cap but when they come out of contract, they're going to have to fall underit.Thatwillbethetrickybit and we will try to get ahead of thegameasmuchaspossible."
The Sporting Director says good performances between now and the end of the campaign from those players nearing the end of their deal are in everyone's interests.
"Wewillgothroughaperiod of consultation with the players and the representatives as to where we're at and what it looks like moving forward," he said.
"Ultimately, they're in a position where if they perform well for Sunderland, it's in everyone's best interests.
"At the minute, it's business as usual where these guys are experienced to know that it's about performance. If they're able to develop a high level of performance then it's not just Sunderland who will be interested. We will run every scenario that's required to put ourselves in the best position.”