David Prutton is on the verge of leaving Saints.

George Burley has today given the 25-year-old midfielder permission to speak to "one or two" clubs and assuming Prutton agrees personal terms he will be sold before the end of the transfer window.

Burley confirmed that one of the teams is Nottingham Forest - the club from which Prutton was signed from for £2.5m in January 2003.

Prutton's contract expires at the end of the season but he is out of the picture at Saints and has asked for regular football. Saints will get a fee in the region of £250,000 if he is sold.

Burley said: "The only one (who could leave) is David Prutton.

"David came and spoke to us and feels at this stage he needs regular first team football which I can't promise him.

"I've granted him permission to speak to one or two clubs which he's doing and we'll see how it goes."