Phil Mulryne will find himself at the top of Nigel Worthington's list of priorities as the Norwich City manager starts to pick up the pieces of a season that ended in so much disappointment. Worthington is keen to ensure that Mulryne's saved penalty in the shoot-out against Birmingham was not the last he will see of the Northern Irishman in a Canaries shirt. Mulryne turned down a new contract offer early this year and, come July, is free to leave Carrow Road without a penny changing hands: with Premiership clubs interested in his services and Sunday's play-off defeat still in his mind, he has a big decision to make. But the midfielder is at least ready to talk terms with Worthington – and the manager's view is simple. "The Phil situation is pretty clear," said Worthington. "Phil knows my feelings, he knows the football club's feelings and we all want him to stay. "I would love him to stay, he has been a big part of it. He is a great character, a great player and one that I very much would love to have on board. "His agent is stalling at this moment in time so until the agent has something else lined up or Phil wants to come and talk us when we can maybe get some common ground, we have to be patient." Mulryne said he would be meeting Worthington this week. "It's a big decision for me. If I move it will be for football reasons and they're going to have to be a lot better than what I've got at Norwich," said the 24-year-old. "That's what the manager's said all along, that I'm a big part of his plans here. Some players move for money, but for me it's all about playing your football and enjoying it." Mulryne was devastated as he saw Nico Vaesen beat out his penalty shot, but Worthington was quick to defend his player. "Hopefully it will not be his last kick, and I'm quite upbeat about that," he said. "But the lad is disappointed, he feels that he has let me down, let the club down – and that isn't the case at all. "He has had a terrific season and been a major part in what we have done and has the courage to go and take a penalty. He has hit it very, very well, the keeper's made a good save. He has not let anyone down." Mulryne is one of five City players out of contract this summer – Danny Bloomfield and Lewis Blois are to be released, but Darel Russell and Gaetano Giallanza have yet to be told of their fate. "They will have a letter sent to them by the end of this week to let them know what is happening, so that will be ongoing," said Worthington. Russell is another to have turned down a new contract, but his circumstances are markedly different from Mulryne's. At 21 years old, Russell's fee will be decided by a tribunal – but his star doesn't shine as bright as Mulryne's and he has not donned a Canaries shirt since coming on as a sub against Watford at the end of February. Giallanza could find himself as the unluckiest man at the club: the Swiss-Italian scored five goals in 10 starts and eight subs' appearances before damaging his knee against Sheffield United in October, 2000. Complications set in and although the 27-year-old has recently returned to training, he has not kicked a ball for Norwich City in more than a year and a half.
