Owen Coyle has warned his players they're playing for their Bolton Wanderers futures.
The Premier League's bottom club has no fewer than 13 first-teamers coming to the end of their current terms this summer - a list that includes England central defender Gary Cahill and fan favourites Kevin Davies and Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Stalwarts such as Ricardo Gardner, Gretar Steinsson, Martin Petrov, Zat Knight and Tuncay are also on that list.
"I can quite understand why my chairman would be reluctant to give out new contracts until people earn them.
"That's what you've got to do, the proof is in the pudding. It is up to the players to say, 'I want to be at the football club'. Or, if they think there are better things out there, then to play at such a level that they are in the best position in terms of the hand they are dealt.
"It's fair to say that should be a huge incentive for those players.""It's something they've got to take on board," said Coyle.