June 16th is a key date in the Football League re-engagement procedure.

For those clubs who were not involved in the play offs, this is the date when the players have to accept (or not as the case that may be) the contracts that were offered to them at the end of last season.

In the Cobblers case, of course, those players who were offered new deals were Jason Crowe, Mark Hughes and Giles Coke and these remain pending.

That today has arrived without those contracts being signed does not mean those players will automatically be leaving, as negotiations can continue and/or those offers can remain on the table for as long as the club wish.

Under the terms of the re-engagement procedure, the club could not withdraw or reduce the contracts offered until June 16th. Now that date has been reached though, the club can reduce or withdraw the contract offers at any point if they so wish. They could however, also agree to leave the offer on the table for an agreed longer period of time or until further notice.

In the case of Giles Coke, should he not sign a new contract at Sixfields, because he is under 24 and the club offered him a contract at least equal to the terms he was on previously, the club retain compensation rights on him even if he does not sign the new deal.

This means he can now remain at the club on a week to week basis if necessary until he either signs a new contract or moves to a new club. The new club will either have to pay the fee required by the club or go to a tribunal should a fee not be agreed.

Pre-season training is set to begin on July 1. First news of any contracts and/or new signings will be issued via the official SMS service.