SAM Allardyce threw down the gauntlet today to four of Wanderers' most expensive signings.

Dean Holdsworth, Mark Fish, Robbie Elliott and Paul Warhurst are all in the final year of their Reebok contracts and could all leave on free transfers next summer.

If they do, Wanderers will effectively write off £9.5 million.

But the manager expects the quartet to pull out the stops, for the good of the team and for the sake of their own careers.

"I expect good seasons from all four of them," Allardyce said.

Holdsworth suffered a nightmare in his first pre-season outing on Tuesday when he damaged shoulder ligaments which could keep him out for four to six weeks while Elliott is striving to reach full fitness for the start of the season after an operation on his groin during the summer break.

"They all need to perform at their best level to show that they are worthy of a new contract offer and are worthy of the types of salaries they will demand, either with us or with another club."

Wanderers know they are likely to see four of the most expensive signings in the club's history walk away as free agents at the end of the season under the Bosman ruling - unless they can sell them or the players themselves are prepared to take significant salary drops to stay at the Reebok.

But Allardyce sees no reason why they should not perform to their best ... quite the opposite.

"Their futures are at stake," he explained, "and their future earning potential.

"Mark Fish might have been disappointed that his transfer to Charlton fell through but he's still contracted to this football club and I expect him to be as committed as ever.

"If he plays well at the start of the season, he might well get the move he wants. If he doesn't, then he'll lose his place in the team and no-one will come in for him.

"If he is to get what he wants then he's going to have to be on top form and that can only be to the team's benefit.

"The same goes for the others, who could all play in the Premiership, although in the case of Paul Warhurst and Robbie Elliott a lot depends on whether they can stay fit. We don't doubt their footballing ability but what people do question is their ability to stay on the football field for 35 to 40 games a season. That's something that would deter other clubs from taking them if we aren't able to keep them.

"If Paul and Robbie are going to continue in their careers, commanding the sort of salaries they want, then they have to start putting those 40 games in. If they do, we'll all be happy."