TODAY will be D-Day for Saints £4million bid for Derby midfielder Rory Delap.
The Republic of Ireland international has spent the weekend mulling over a move that would smash Saints transfer record and although Saints have not given Delap any deadline, the feeling is that if it doesn't happen today the deal may fall through.
Saints have agreed a fee with Derby and terms with the player and chairman Rupert Lowe said: "It's now a question of geography."
The sticking point is believed to be Delap's concern over the distance between the South Coast and his family base in Carlisle which would make it difficult for his parents to see Saints home games.
Derby are keen for the move to go ahead to finance their own transfer dealings and Delap is due to see Rams boss Jim Smith today who will try and apply the pressure.
Meanwhile, Chris Marsden has signed another year's extension to his contract which will take him up to the end of the 2003-2004 season.
Lowe said: "He had two years left any way and we decidedto extend it by another year."
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