Sunderland's bid to challenge for an automatic promotion place in League One has been called to an abrupt halt due to recent off-the-field events. 

The EFL have recently announced that footballing fixtures across the UK won't get back underway until it is deemed safe to do so.

These off-the-field problems have led to uncertainty amongst some players who have contracts that are set to expire in the summer. Any extension to the current season would throw their futures into doubt,

One Sunderland player that is out-of-contract at the end of this year's campaign is Duncan Watmore, who has made 22 appearances in an injury-hit season for the Black Cats.

Watmore has been with the club for a number of seasons now, and will be hoping to have his short-term future resolved at the earliest of opportunities.

Speaking on the Ornstein and Chapman Podcast, Watmore revealed that his wedding is set to be cancelled due to the off-the-field crisis, and admitted that he isn't sure on how/when his contract will be completed this season.

"My wedding looks like it's going to be canceled, which Sophie has been a bit upset about so I've been dealing with that.

"In terms of the contract, I think it is an interesting situation. I think about half the Sunderland squad are out of contract on June 30 so I don't know how that's going to get resolved."

"I think it might just be a case of FIFA just bumping them along for a couple of months to complete the season, and if that's what happens then I'm sure it'll work well for everyone.

"But there's so much uncertainty around the whole world at the moment that you can't really be making predictions or planning for things - you've just got to deal with it on a day-by-day basis I suppose."

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The Verdict: 

It's a difficult predicament for a player at the moment.

They will want assurances over their futures at their respective clubs, but the situation is changing daily at the moment, so it's important that the relevant authorities step in and provide some clarity over contracts that are set to expire in the summer.

Watmore hasn't had much of a chance to impress this season, as his season has been hit with a number of injury problems.

He's a player that was once one of the brightest prospects in English football, but injuries have seen him struggle for consistent minutes for Sunderland recently.

He'll be hoping to do all he can to impress Phil Parkinson when they do return to action.