Spanish striker Pablo Couñago says he wants to remain with the Blues after his lucrative contract signed during Town's Premiership days is up at the end of June. Couñago, who has been out of favour for most of this season, says he is not concerned that he would have to take a massive pay-cut to remain at the club.

Couñago is the club's highest-paid player on a deal worth almost £1 million a year, a wage unsustainable in the Championship and one which the Blues have sought to rid themselves of over the last year.

However, the frontman says he is keen to stay and that cash is not his primary concern: "That contract is almost over and I wouldn't worry if my wages went down. But it is not all about money.

"I would not want to stay if the manager was not going to play me. I would need to feel a part of the club.

"That means I need to feel they want me here, especially the manager. I have desire for the club but I don't know if they feel the same about me.

"The supporters of this club have been wonderful to me and also the other players, but I need to be playing. That is the most important thing.

"I will have to have a chat with the manager and see what he wants from me. If he wants to make some changes and wants me to leave, I will go. It will be the end."

Couñago's relationship with Joe Royle suffered after the 2001 Bosman signing from Celta Vigo returned unfit last summer after time back in Spain, the striker perhaps anticipating that he would have left the club before pre-season training began.

Both made uncompromising comments regarding the situation in the press but the Spaniard recently intimated that the relationship between the pair is not quite as frosty as has been suggested in some reports.

Despite being made available on a free transfer in August, no bids have come in for the former Spain U21 international, aside from loan offers from Preston North End and Spanish second division club Córdoba.

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