LUKE Williams has lauded the commitment of Nathan Thompson and Jonathan Obika to the Swindon Town cause despite the duo’s future at the club being up in the air.

Club captain Thompson and striker Obika are amongst 11 players out of contract at the end of the season who can all leave the County Ground on a free transfer, while a further seven will depart at the conclusion of their loan spells.

With some players potentially already having an eye on the future away from the club, there is a prospect of them downing tools for Town’s desperate battle to preserve their League One status – although head coach Williams is sure that is certainly not the case for Thompson and Obika.

“I admire both men immensely. A lot of the time they have carried a huge responsibility for the team and they do that without any qualms at all,” said Williams.

“They are under huge pressure and these are not boys that never have to think about another days work, these are boys that have still got to play for their living.

“Every day they show that they respect the fans and myself and their team-mates and I can talk all day about their character but I think it’s unfair of me to talk about their future.

“They are out of contract in the summer and it’s their prerogative what they do. If they ask me for any advice, I will be forth coming, but I don’t pry in that way.

“I hope that they move on to something great if they leave the club, and if they don’t, I hope that they have a wonderful successful time at Swindon.”

Williams has recently had to call into question whether some members of the Town squad a truly behind their survivals fight, highlighted by his decision to fine and drop four players for what he viewed as poor conduct.

The Town head coach admits some of his players are not in the right frame of mind mentally and that can be a by-product of an uncertain future.

“I think in all walks of life, if people were honest, they would tell you that once they had handed their notice in at a job, often that notice period is not worked with the same intensity as the rest of their time in that employment,” said Williams.

“That’s human nature but it’s disappointing because you want every player to be doing the utmost all the time.

“Often, we talk as staff and say surely if you are out of contract, you need to be training double hard and do everything you possibly can to be in the shop window.

“I am sure there are some players that are not completely focused and I try to make sure the ones that are on the pitch are the ones that I believe are absolutely ready to play and up for the challenge and feeling as positive about the situation as they can be.

“Others who I have got suspicions that are not in that frame of mind don’t play.”