TIM Ream has stuck up for Wanderers’ out-of-contract stars – insisting they shouldn’t be treated as the “bad guys.”

The US defender has sympathy for team-mates Adam Bogdan and Darren Pratley, whose future at the Macron Stadium is currently in some doubt.

Wanderers have made a well-publicised offer to Bogdan but the Hungary international is currently keeping his options open with more than a month remaining before he officially becomes a free agent.

Negotiations for Pratley have also ground to a halt according to sources close to the midfielder.

Wanderers had already seen talks break down with last season’s captain, Matt Mills, who was eventually released in the retained list announced just over a week ago.

But Ream offered a voice of reason from the dressing room, urging fans to reserve their judgement.

“It’s a tough position to be out of contract and looking to negotiate, in fact you can look like the bad guy by not signing an offer that’s made,” he told The Bolton News.

“Guys that are out of contract have contributed in good ways this year. Hopefully they can get those deals over the line but if they can’t then you can’t begrudge someone for moving on and seeking pastures new. It’s always a tough position to be in.”

Ream takes “few positives” from last season and foresees a lot of new faces when Wanderers get back together for pre-season at the end of next month.

He is also hoping veterans Emile Heskey and Eidur Gudjohnsen will soon complete the formalities of their own one-year deals.

“I’d expect there to be a big turnover but people like myself, Sparky (Mark Davies) and Wheats (David Wheater) will still be here, and then a lot of the kids coming through,” he said. “Hopefully Emile and Eidur will both come back because they’ve been really positive.

“It has been a long season and there are very few positives we can take from it but we are in the Championship next season – that’s the main thing - and we’ll be going for promotion.”

Ream has a potentially busy summer of international football, with a series of friendlies leading up to the Gold Cup in July, which, if selected, would rule him out of the majority of Wanderers’ pre-season friendlies.

The defender has been involved in most of Jurgen Klinsmann’s recent squads but was left out of last summer’s World Cup.

Some have questioned whether the German coach questions the quality of football on offer outside the English Premier League – but Ream is not unduly worried.

“Everyone’s going to have an opinion, whether he rates the Championship or not is up to him,” he said.

“I’ve had multiple conversations with him and he seems keen on guys just playing in the first team, second division or higher. You’ve got evidence of guys playing in the second division in Germany and still playing for him.

“He’s still calling me in so there must be something to it."