Further doubt was cast on Richie Brittain’s summer move to St Johnstone by his current boss Derek Adams.
The Ross County skipper signed a pre-contract with the Perth club in January in a deal that would see him stay at McDiarmid for the next two years.
However, reports suggested that the attacking midfielder has had a change of heart for “personal reasons” and is now determined to stay with the Staggies.
That U-turn was something Adams refused to confirm. However, he did admit that he was aware there had been developments between Brittain and Saints for some time.
Despite that claim, St Johnstone chairman Steve Brown insisted that he expects Brittain to honour their agreement and join Saints at the end of the season.
Adams, who will take his team including Brittain to Perth to face St Johnstone on Sunday, revealed: “What I would say is that I’ve known for a wee while now what the situation is.
“St Johnstone know what the situation is and you would need to speak to St Johnstone on that. I can’t really say anything else because it is in Richard Brittain’s and St Johnstone’s hands.
“Richard has previously stated he wants to move to St Johnstone and I believe he is in discussions with them just now.”
“It would be (unusual for the pre-contract deal to be broken), but sometimes you feel you have made a mistake and you want to move out of that situation,” said Adams.
“But I can’t really say anything else.”
When asked whether Brittain would still be welcome if he negotiated his way out of the move to Perth, Adams replied: “I can’t say anything because he is technically a St Johnstone player in the summer.
“St Johnstone know what is happening, so it is probably up to them to state the situation.
“I’ve obviously read comments this morning, but we will not pay any money to St Johnstone if anything was to happen. St Johnstone will be able to tell you the likelihood of that, but I haven’t spoken to Richard recently.”
Perth supremo Brown was insistent though that Brittain will be wearing the blue of St Johnstone next season.
He said: “Both parties entered into the pre-contract agreement in good faith and I fully expect the player to honour it, as we would do.”
Saints are set to lose midfielders Liam Craig and Murray Davidson at the end of the season and McDiarmid boss Steve Lomas had targeted Brittain as the man to at least partially plug the gap as well as bring his dead-ball and leadership qualities to the club.
Brittain began his career with Livingston before making a move to St Mirren in 2008, staying with the Buddies for two years.