As readers of the site will be aware, Upthesaddlers.com has, in recent weeks, received information from two separate sources at the club that there has been no decision made so far as to whether to offer player-manager Paul Merson a new contract or not.

Merson’s contract expires this summer and the only thing that has been said on the subject of a renewal is the Manager’s own statement that he had been told he wouldn’t be here next season if the club were to be relegated.

With the club finally achieving safety with the excellent win on Saturday against Hull City, it is surely time for Chairman Jeff Bonser to make a decision one way or another.

Whether he will decide to keep Merson on, or whether he wants to bring a new man in, that decision needs to be made now, in order to give time over the summer to sort out the squad for next season. A very large number of the squad are out of contract themselves and the introduction of the transfer window to this division next season means that the Manager will need as long as possible to ensure the squad is ready for a play off push next season.

Time to act one way or another, Jeff!