CITY have been one of League Two’s biggest players during the January window.

With six in, four out and the promise of more to come both ways before the deadline a week on Monday, it has been quite a squad reconstruction.

But where does that leave those whose contracts are up in the summer?

The future of Connor Wood has been a hot topic on social media as his three-year deal approaches its conclusion.

It’s a similar scenario for Anthony O’Connor, who arrived at the club in the same 2018 window.

Negotiations with those they would like to keep will probably kick in once City are in a surer position in the table. Avoiding being sucked into a prolonged relegation battle remains the priority.

But there will be very different boundaries around the discussions because of the salary cap.

Wood and O’Connor were both signed as part of a £4.1 million wage budget in League One – believed to be the highest at Valley Parade since City dropped out the Championship. Not that it did them any good that season with relegation.

But it’s safe to assume the defensive duo are therefore among the biggest earners in the current squad.

Going forward into 2021-2022, they would be shoehorned into the £1.5 million ceiling now imposed on the fourth tier.

So however keen City may be to retain their services, it is inevitable that the figures presented on the table will be significantly reduced.

It was the same with Richard O’Donnell this season. The City skipper is understood to have taken a sizeable pay cut compared with before because he now comes under the cap.

Those still in contract when the new system kicked in were recorded at a base annual rate of £68,000 in terms of how much cap space they took up. Any new wage deals from last summer onwards are swallowed up entirely within the limit.

Those are the financial realities facing lower-league clubs and players now – and why it will hit hard when it comes to contract renewals.

“That is really harsh in itself,” admitted City chief executive Ryan Sparks.

“Certain players would usually be rewarded for their service or the way they have applied themselves.

“But all of a sudden that is out of the window and it will be tough on some.

“We’ll do everything we can to make sure those that we’d like to keep at the club are given at least we what believe is a competitive offer.

“It’s not that we’re looking to cut back or save money. We simply don’t have much choice because it’s been taken out of our hands.

“That is what the salary cap is designed to do – to control clubs.”

With his rugby league background, Sparks is familiar with the salary-cap concept. But he voted against its introduction last summer on City’s behalf because the limit was set too low.

“We’re now starting to see what I predicted at the time.

“We are in competition with National League clubs, where we cannot compete on a wage level with certain personnel. Some of the salaries being paid at National League level are eye-watering.

“You are starting to run your maths now on where you might not be able to spend the money that you’d like and which departments of the squad you’ll have to make exceptions.

“It’s a real challenge for everybody.

“In the summer, I would expect to see a lot of change in the market.

“There may be players who believe they can wait for a better offer – that might come from Scotland or the National League. I think it will be an eye-opener for some.

“Salary cap sport is what I cut my teeth in and I’ve seen it work both ways.

“If you get it right, it can be brilliant. If you get it wrong, it can be devastating.

“It’s at the forefront of my mind and Lee Turnbull’s and something we talk about every other day.”

Sparks has set up a “live cap” to monitor exactly where the club’s budget is right now as well as a projected one for next season.

“We’re looking at what next season’s squad, as it stands today, will cost us and what the room is, how many players we would need to bring in and in what positions or re-sign of course.

“That gives you the ability to start setting your stall out in terms of offers to players.

“But it’s a real challenge. The cap is too low, there’s no doubt about that.

“We didn’t vote for it – our preferred option was higher. But there were also clubs in this division who wanted it to be £1.25 million.

“I’m not sure how that would have worked.”

Sparks believes the present salary cap lacks flexibility and was not presented correctly.

The Championship, the EFL’s flagship division, does not operate a cap. Discussions to bring in a potential £18 million barrier are still taking place.

“We all play under the same banner but there are different rules higher up the chain,” said Sparks. “I don’t understand that.

“It’s probably now very sensible bringing in a salary cap in the Championship. But they’ve been given essentially a whole year to discuss this and get the right fit for everyone.

“I would have hoped that we’d have had a similar time for due diligence and further look at ways in which it can be enhanced.

“I cannot understand why we did not turn to other sports and look at some of the methods and caveats they have inside the cap. More avenues could have been explored before pushing the button.

“I do feel things will change in time. There are a number of clubs in League One who are campaigning for an increase and I support that.

“But a number of items within the cap have regularly needed to be clarified to clubs. That tells you everything.

“I shouldn’t be having to ask questions about the salary cap’s finer details at this point.”