Danny Swanson has opened up on his St Johnstone contract “nightmare”.
The Perth playmaker’s current deal runs out in the summer and the former Dundee United man had hoped an extension would have been sorted out a few months ago.
There are other clubs waiting in the wings according to Swanson, who has admitted that the impasse with Saints is now affecting his football.
And if it isn’t to be with the McDiarmid Park side, he is getting close to the point of opening talks elsewhere.
“I thought we had agreed what was happening weeks ago so it has been dragging on too long for my liking,” said Swanson.
“It has all gone quiet and it’s an absolute nightmare.
“I had a clause in my contract that we would speak back in May and that didn’t happen. But I started the season well and after the Dundee game in October I thought we had a deal agreed.
“The gaffer has always said he wants to keep me and we have a good relationship. We have been very honest with each other.
“We speak every week and I’m keen to stay but it looks like his hands are tied.
“I didn’t think the uncertainty would get to me but it has over the last three or four weeks. I’m not sure what’s going on. It’s preying on my mind now and I didn’t think that would happen.
“It’s getting to the stage where I am going to be out of job in the summer. But I can talk to clubs now and there is interest there.
“I have got an agent now who is helping me. Clubs have been in contact with him and I am quite happy to listen to them if we can’t get this sorted out.
“So it is really down to St Johnstone if they want to keep me here longer. But if it’s not going to work out here I definitely have other options.”
The ex-Hearts and Coventry man, who was Saints’ star man in the first half of the season, added: “The clock is ticking now because all this uncertainty does affect your football.
“I’d like to get something done with St Johnstone or another club in the next few weeks. I have a wife and family to think about so I don’t want to leave it until the summer.
“I suppose the ball is in the club’s court and we’ll see what if anything happens.”
Saints face Ross County in Dingwall this afternoon, and the teams’ last match in the Highlands is one Swanson has fond memories of.
“I enjoy going up there and it will be good to see Jim O’Brien again,” he said. “I played with Jim at Coventry.
“I scored one and set-up another earlier in the season. It was one of our best performances.
“The pitch is one of the best in the league and I look forward to games there.
“They have signed a few good players. As well as Jim, they signed Oscar Gobern from Huddersfield. I came up against him in England and he’s a really good player.
“They have a big squad with plenty experience and they are comfortable on the ball.
“I think Ross County will be thereabouts for the top six so if we can get three points maybe one more win would secure our place.”
Fifth-placed Saints have opened up a nine-point gap on sixth-placed Kilmarnock and a 10-point gap on the pack below the split line.
Top six football wouldn’t be mathematically secured with victory today but it would put them in an incredibly strong position.
“We have been speaking about it and that’s guesswork,” Swanson said. “But we should be up there.
“We are where we are in the league for a reason and we expect to be there now.
“We have done the groundwork and we are nearly there.
“Hopefully we can press Hearts for fourth place. I’m not sure the state of the Tynecastle pitch will help them. They might struggle a bit at home.
“Hopefully we can push on because I can’t remember the last time I was involved in a run-in just for the sake of playing. It has always been about avoiding relegation in England, play-offs or playing for Europe.”
Paul Paton is suspended but Michael Coulson returns to the squad.
