Danny Higginbotham is today contemplating his Saints future after receiving a contract extension offer that has made him feel the club are willing to sell him.

So poor is Higginbotham's proposed deal that both the player and his agent, Alex Black, feel there is no room for negotiation as he will effectively be on less money than he currently earns at the end of next season when his contract expires.

Higginbotham has had no explanation as to why the offer is so much less than he was expecting, but Saints boss George Burley refutes this and told the Daily Echo last night he is amazed that an opening offer from the club has had no response.

The former Manchester United and Derby defender said he has shown loyalty and commitment to Saints in the face of interest from Premiership clubs and the fact he has has alreday taken one substantial pay cut and is one of the lowest paid senior players at the club. Despite that, he has become an integral part of a squad he believes can get back to the Premiership under Burley.

He said: "I had a meeting with the chairman with my agent to discuss an extension to the deal because I had it in my contract that after 40 games it was open to re-negotiation and I had played about 100 games.

"The chairman said in the summer the situation with us going down meant we were not in a financial position to do that. A couple of Premiership clubs came and did enquire about me but he said 'stay, have a good season and we'll talk about it'.

"I was happy to get on with it and I showed on the pitch how committed I was. I never kicked up a fuss.

"In the January transfer window, a couple more clubs came in and asked about me. George said he didn't want me to go - he's been great through it all and I was delighted he said he wanted me to stay.

"I told him what had happened with the chairman and he said to sit down in the summer.

"But I wanted to get it sorted before then and my agent spoke to the manager and he said there was no problem and was happy I wanted to stay.

"Early this week, I got a contract faxed through to me and the total package is going to put me on less money than I am now. I am already one of the lowest paid senior players at the club.

"At the moment the way things are I could move on in the summer.

More of Adam Leitch's exclusive story in tonight's Daily Echo