NO further contract talks are expected at Oxford United until the club’s Football League status is secured.

This week Callum O’Dowda agreed a three-year deal, following in the footsteps of fellow youngster James Roberts, who was also tied down until 2018 earlier in the campaign.

Several other members of head coach Michael Appleton’s squad are out of contract this summer.

But with United not out of danger at the wrong end of the Sky Bet League Two table, no other agreements are likely to be concluded until the 50-point barrier is passed.

  • Latest United news:

Mark Ashton, United’s chief executive, said: “We’re reviewing the rest of the contracts as we speak.

“Callum was the urgent one we wanted to try and get done.

“As we start to move towards the end of the season obviously Michael and I are discussing all the players’ contracts for next season.

“Once we have got enough points on the board and Michael is comfortable we’re in the right position, then we will start those discussions.

“At the moment it’s purely focused on Saturdays and getting results on the board.”

O’Dowda and Roberts have broken through to become regulars this season, but Appleton has high hopes for other youth team graduates.

He said: “There’s the likes of Sam Long, Josh Ashby and Josh Ruffels, plus young Sam Humphreys and possibly even Aidan Hawtin as well.

“We should be as a club looking in two or three years time for them to be the core of our team.

“If we’re successful, certainly in the role I’ve been brought in to do, then hopefully it will be in a better division.”