Dunfermline boss Jim Jefferies has expressed his disappointment that defender Callum Morris has rejected a new contract offer.
The 24-year-old centre-half was offered a contract with a break clause that he could have exercised should the club not succeed in making it to the Championship next season.
Morris has, however, opted not to follow in the footsteps of Andy Geggan and Josh Falkingham, who was stripped of the captaincy after he initially turned down the club’s offer, in penning new deals.
The Geordie now looks set to leave in the summer and Jefferies has promised to keep close tabs on his player to ensure he keeps standards up.
“If Callum starts losing his way or losing focus and that starts to affect his performances, then I have players who will replace him,” he said.
“If Callum doesn’t handle the situation, then the same will happen to him as happened to Josh earlier. Credit to them for at least showing that they are prepared to help Dunfermline get something if they want to move on.
“That is what is disappointing me most about Callum; we weren’t holding him back the break clause was always going to be less than what we valued him at anyway.
“It is his decision but the offer is off the table now. If he doesn’t sign until the end of the season, he has lost that incentive.
“There will not be any back dating, only renegotiation if he chaps my door and wants to sign. The process will start all over again but he might not get the same offer.”