Mallinder: Out-of-contract players still have a chance at Saints

Eleven men re-signed last Friday, but there are still several first-team players whose contracts expire this summer.

The likes of James Wilson and Howard Packman are among the men who, as it stands, would be leaving this summer.

But Mallinder insists his squad for the next campaign is yet to be set in stone and says players could still get new deals if they impress.

“Our squad has not been finalised at all and there are quite a few players and positions that we’re still looking at,” said Mallinder, who handed Ben Nutley a deal towards the end of last season.

“It’s certainly not too late for some of these players to earn a contract for next season.”

Saints have already recruited four players for next season, with Australia centre Rob Horne and South Africa scrum-half Cobus Reinach among the players signing on at Franklin’s Gardens.

Back row forward Mitch Eadie and prop Jamal Ford-Robinson will arrive from Bristol, who they impressed for in the win against Bath last Sunday.

And Mallinder said: “We were pleased with those two. I did watch the Bristol-Bath game as well and we’re happy that they’re coming in.

“We are strengthening and it’s good that the club are supporting us so we’ve got extra resources to put into the playing side.

“I have said it before that particularly our backline needed strengthening and we’ve already added a couple of key international players, and we’ll be looking to add to that as well.”