SKIPPER Tommy Mooney says he will sort out his future in the next ten days - but insists he has not been offered the assistant manager's role at Adams Park.

The 35-year-old, who has been stalling on signing a new contract, has been linked with the post since Steve Brown was sacked last week in a streamlining measure.

He said: "It's inevitable that people are putting two and two together because I have made no secret of the fact that I would like to go into coaching when I finish playing - but I haven't had any discussions with the football club about a role like that, we haven't even organised a playing contract yet."

Mooney says his main priority is to carry on playing as long as possible.

He said: "Coaching is a natural progression when you get to my age. It is something that I want to get into but I want to do that alongside playing. I haven't spoken to anyone about a direct coaching role but I would hope to gain some coaching experience.

"I want to play in a team next season that has a chance to get promotion."

Mooney delayed penning a new deal last season because he wanted to wait to see who manager Paul Lambert brought in to strengthen the squad over the summer.

He has sat back and seen the gaffer recruit ex-Premership midfielder Martin Bullock, keeper Scott Shearer, Scottish Premier League defender David McCracken and former Bristol City defender Craig Woodman.

He has been impressed by the calibre of the signings but insists the Blues still need more new faces to mount a promotion challenge next season.

Two other clubs are believed to be waiting to snap him up if Mooney does not stay at Adams Park.

With pre-season training postponed until Thursday, Mooney jetted off for a few days extra holiday with his family in Dubai leaving his agent in charge of contractual talks.

Speaking from there yesterday, Mooney told the Midweek Free Press: "My agent will speak to the club at some point this week and put a contract together."

"Within the next ten days I will make a decision. I had hoped that things would have been sorted last week but they weren't.

"I cannot keep putting people off."