Seems to me that his contract should be null and void if the club are changing its terms halfway through. Presumably he signed on the basis of p/t football and a set no of training nights a week, saying 'I'd like to stick to that please' is hardly holding Barrow to ransom is it? Assuming there is no contractual basis to allow Barrow to do what they propose not allowing the player to look for another club unfettered would be a constraint of trade and therefore very naughty.
Bob Crowe anyone?
I think you might be missing the point. Clubs don't wait until contracts have expired - then offer a new one. If a player signs a 2/3 year deal, most clubs then re-negotiate during the last year of the contract. Could you imagine Man Utd or Liverpool etc letting there players contracts expire before offering new ones, they'd be bricking it.
This is where players are often 'cast off' or sent out on loan when they don't accept a new deal, it seems to me Barrow think he's worth a few bob hence them offering a new contract. He'll end up seeing his contract out and moving on.