Dunfermline boss Jim Jefferies intends to open contract talks with defender Callum Morris as he continues his bid to tie up all of his key first-team players.
The Pars have succeeded in securing Andy Geggan, Shaun Byrne and Ryan Wallace on deals until 2016, while recent Scotland under-19 call-ups Ryan Williamson and Lewis Martin have also committed their future to the East End Park outfit.
However, Jefferies’ biggest success came last week as he convinced Josh Falkingham, who had previously intimated he was unlikely to accept a renewal, to pen an extension.
Morris is next on his hit-list, with the player expected to be offered a two-year extension and presented with the challenge to take Dunfermline back to the top level of Scottish football.
Jefferies confirmed: “I had a brief chat with Callum before, but he had still to speak to his agent at that point. We will have further talks next week.
“I will ask the question next week and take things from there. At this stage, I’ve no idea whether he wants to stay. It is not something we have spoken in depth about.
“It’s hard to say how confident I can be about Callum, but the other boys have certainly agreed to stay on, which is really positive.
“The thing that concerns all of these boys is that they want to play at the highest level. No-one will stop them from doing that here. They have two ways of reaching the top and the first one is by taking us there, and that is what I want them to do.
“The second way is by moving on, but if a really big club is looking at them then that at least means they are doing well for us.”
Jefferies also revealed that any deal for Morris is likely to include a clause to allow him to speak to clubs in a higher division.
That caveat was part of the extensions signed by Falkingham and Geggan, although Jefferies does not believe that means anyone is likely to leave the club at the first sign of interest from elsewhere.
“The two lads have done the right thing by putting clauses in there that we are happy with and they are happy with,” continued Jefferies. “The same will apply with anyone else who wants to put a similar clause in.
“We would never stop anyone from playing at the highest level but, personally, I believe that playing at the highest level for Dunfermline is a great option.
“There’s no guarantee that anyone of them would even want to leave if the chance came.
“If we can gain promotion, then they could want to stay and play in a really good division next year with games against Rangers and maybe Hearts.
“There’s some cracking games to look forward to.”