George Burley says that as yet Mark Venus has not signed his new one-year contract. The Town centre-back was offered a new deal just under two weeks ago and said he would take a fortnight to mull over whether he should sign.

Burley says there is no specific timescale as far as he is concerned and understands Venus taking his time: "Mark is on holiday and has gone away to talk things over with his family. It's a big decision for him.

"Mark has done tremendously well for the club and it would probably have been an easier decision if we had not been relegated.

"There is no specific deadline, but it would be nice to have Mark's decision in the next few weeks."

Venus could be waiting for an offer from elsewhere which would give him a last chance to play Premiership football.

So far Colchester United are the only club to express an interest, but Venus said he was unwilling to take a drop to the Second Division at this stage of his career.

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