ANDY KING has started fresh contract negotiations with Andy Gurney, Danny Invincible and Eric Sabin.

Although the season is barely a month old, the Town boss is determined to secure the services of all three for the 2003-4 campaign.

The trio will be free agents at the end of the season, and King is not prepared to leave negotiations until the last moment.

In Invincible's case, he will be 24 by the time his current deal expires and the Bosman ruling could see the Australian leave the County Ground for nothing.

That is a scenario the Town boss is desperate to avoid.

King said: "I have already spoken to Danny about this and I will be arranging meetings with Andy and Eric to discuss the future.

"Football has changed. When I played, you went in to see the manager at the end of your contract to see if you would be offered a new one.

"That is no longer the case. Players and their agents are looking weeks and months ahead, and managers have to do the same."

King said supporters could make their own judgment about his priorities, having publicly named his 'priority' trio, but that should not be taken that other players were out of the equation for next season.

He said: "As I proved with Adam Willis, I keep an open mind on players."

King returned to both good and bad news at the club yesterday.

Former Crystal Palace midfielder Simon Rodger joined King and Steve Coppell at the club's Wanborough training ground.

King said: "Simon played at the highest level with Palace, but the game is such that it is September and he is still without a club."

However, attempts to sign the 31-year-old could be hampered by yet another transfer embargo imposed on the club by the Football League.

Chief executive Mark Devlin has received confirmation that the club's refusal to pay Neil Ruddock a £58,000 loyalty bonus is the reason.

However, Devlin said it was not the case that Andy King's hands were now tied until the money was paid to Ruddock.

He said: "I'm disappointed that the embargo has been imposed while we are in the process of trying to reach an agreement with Neil Ruddock.

"The embargo means we will have to justify any signings we wish to make.

"We have a small squad and it is my understanding that we would have a strong case when arguing that a new player was needed to cover for injured existing players. But clearly it is something we could have done without."

Although Town have yet to receive the official blessing of Southend United, it is likely that ticket prices for the LDV Vans Trophy first round clash on October 23 will be as follows: £5 (adults) and £2 (concessions).