GARETH Bale will this month turn down Saints' offer of a new contract.

Sources close to the deal say that the 17-year-old Welsh international is happy to remain at Saints for the remainder of this season and consider his options in the summer.

But the starlet is not expected to sign the 12-month extension to his current deal, that expires in the summer of 2008, this month.

That leaves the Saints board in a difficult position and will divide opinion inside and outside St Mary's.

PLC directors will be caught between wanting to keep their prize asset for a promotion push or selling him this month to raise more money than if he left in the summer.

Bale has 18 months to run on his existing deal.

If he is sold this month he could fetch the £7-8m price tag Saints have attached to him with Manchester United leading the race.

If he is not sold, his value will drop by about 60 per cent if he were to be sold in the summer.

But there is a bigger concern amongst those who might advocate Bale's sale.

It's not what his value might be in the summer, but whether he will then run down the remainder of his contract and leave for a tribunal fee - probably a maximum £250,000 - in the summer of 2008.

Other directors would advise holding onto Bale this month as, without him, Saints' promotion push could be harmed.

And with a potential £55m cash jackpot waiting for any team promoted from the Championship this season - the price chief executive Jim Hone has put on going up - Saints need to do all they can to help George Burley.

If they reluctantly have to sell this month, Saints will suggest Bale is loaned back to them for the remaining 18 months of his contract.

But it is more likely to be just until the end of the season.

Even though money remains tight as an after-effect of relegation in May 2005, Saints are under no pressure from their bank to sell this month, though.

Full story: See today's Daily Echo