Sunderland will not be holding contract talks with any of its players until the season is over.

Roy Keane confirmed that the club wasn't going to open talks with players until the club knew where it would be next season - meaning that the futures of several players remains up in the air.

Dwight Yorke is one of those players whose contract is up in the summer, but Keane said that he'll have to wait until the season's over - as the Trinidad and Tobago midfielder reportedly mulls over a return to Australia.

Keane said: "Contract talks and that sort of stuff are all out of the window until this season is over. Not everyone knows that but they do now.

"There will be a lot of the question marks over the lads whose contracts are up such as Yorkie, Hartey (Ian Harte), Wrightie (Stephen Wright). There are a few in the same boat so they will just have to bide their time."

Keane also confirmed that Ross Wallace, who is on the transfer list, still has a chance to get back into contention with Sunderland, despite reported interest from Major League Soccer side Toronto.

Keane added: "Ross has done very well for the club and we can't forget that. Ross was one of the six players I signed in my first few days at the club. All these players have contributed and I don't forget that. But Ross like everyone else under the roof has got a chance and he is a good player.

"He is still on the transfer list. He had fallen behind like one or two other players and we felt that if something came in that suited the player and the club that we would consider it. I spoke to four or five players about it – it was all above board and was with their agreement – that if an offer came in that interested the player and the club then we would look at it. There is nothing more to it than that. There is nothing sinister.

"I'm pleased with the way the players have reacted.I'm finding different things about different players. Any decent player will see it as some sort of challenge. It's a challenge to see whether or not they want to stay here and be part of the plans for the future and that's fantastic."