If their contract runs out they are allowed to talk with signs, and even sign a pre-contract, in last 6 months of their contract. That’s since the Bowman rule.

Only limitation is that they can only sign a pre-contract for another league.

To be honest... it’s getting always more difficult to get excited about a game at the pub. So many who can’t afford the Sky Commercial fee anymore. Only the biggest pubs are still in it.