FORMER Newport County AFC midfielder Danny Rose predicts a glut of trialists scrambling for squad spots when the date is announced for the start of next season.

The 32-year-old is set for another campaign with Swindon after helping the Robins earn promotion from League Two as champions.

Rose, who was a key figure in Dean Holdsworth’s side that romped to the Conference South title in 2010, is sorted for 2020/21 but plenty of players face a stressful few months.

Over 1,400 individuals in the English Football League are out of contract and few clubs will be recruiting while there is uncertainty over when next season will start, with County planning for an October return to play.

The core of the Exiles’ squad are under contract for next season and the club plan on announcing their retained list this week, with utility man Scot Bennett and striker Jamille Matt leading figures whose deals are expiring.

Rose believes it will be an unusual build-up to the next campaign with players the victims of financial uncertainty as clubs prepare to play behind closed doors.

South Wales Argus:

“I was one of the lucky ones - I was told a while ago that I would be offered a new contract when my current deal finishes at the end of June, so that put my mind at rest a little bit,” Rose told the BBC.

“Now the club know for sure what division we will be in next season - having been promoted to League One - they will be able to sort out their budget and open negotiations with the players they want to keep.

“For the people without a contract offer, I think there will be a scramble going on when there is a date announced for the new season.

“I would imagine there will be lots more players than normal going on trial at clubs when pre-season starts.”

Rose headed to Spytty Park in 2008 and, after scoring 36 goals in 165 apperances, joined Fleetwood in January 2012.

He played for Aldershot, Oxford, Northampton and Portsmouth before signing for Swindon in January 2019.

Rose has won the League Two title for the third time - although he suffered a defeat on his return to Newport - but fears those who didn’t fare so well last year will be sweating on their futures.

South Wales Argus:

He said: “I guess most of the players at Swindon at the moment are in a reasonably healthy position because we have had a successful season, so usually those players are in demand.

“If you are a player who has either just been relegated or had an average season, then you are probably a bit more worried about things - I have been there myself - and wondering about where you go from here.

“Those players will be thinking about where their money is going to come from once their current contract ends, but there are other issues to deal with, like a drop in status if you decide to go down a level or two to try to work your way back up.

“There could be hundreds of players without a club who know they are talented but are at a career crossroads and thinking ‘what on earth do I do now?’

“They are going to need support. Mental health issues in football are getting a lot more awareness but, given the situation, I can only think there are going to be more players affected in the months ahead.”