Saints chairman Rupert Lowe has said that his players will not be offered new contracts at the moment as the uncertainty over the Premier League's commercial rights continues.

Like all other Premiership clubs, Saints are still having to play a waiting game for the European Commission to rule on whether the league are allowed to sell their overseas rights as one package or if they will have to negotiate as individual clubs.

The league is comfortable with selling Premiership action as a single package, as are the office of fair trading in this country, but the EC have raised a statement of objection. Their verdict was due this month but is now not expected until February.

That leaves Saints unsure as to what money they will have coming into the club - and Lowe is cautious about committing to expensive long-term contracts that they ultimately may not be able to afford.

Most of the Saints squad are on long-term deals but the most pressing issues involve Paul Telfer, Jason Dodd and Chris Marsden, whose current deals expire at the end of the season. The only contract thought to be under negotiation at present is that of Gordon Strachan, which ends in the summer.

Lowe, who insists all contract negotiations remain private, said: "The international situation is still under discussion but if that turns out to be disappointing it is unjustifiable to pay out extra money.

"It is very difficult to review contracts, especially as money from showing highlights is down, as is the overall domestic package.

"If you do not know the revenue you will receive but start writing contracts you can easily put your club at risk.

"We have seen this happen elsewhere and I am not prepared to do that.

"I think football has learned its lesson about allowing players to sign lucrative long term contracts."