Ralph Hasenhuttl is not a man who minces his words, nor does he fear taking tough action and he has again spoken of the need those with contracts running down to commit and get with the programme.

The two main contract issues are those of Danny Ings and Ryan Bertrand and both are differing situations.

Ings of course is the key man in the Saints squad and is perhaps at the peak of his career and therefore value, he has to decide whether Saints are where he will finish his career or whether he will seek one last pay day or shot at glory, Hasenhuttl alluded to whether some of his players are receiving advice that is best for their career or best for their bank balance in past statements.

Bertrand is slightly different in that he is a few years older and at the tail end of his career, Saints have had good value for money from him and his transfer value diminishes with each window, his shelf life is far shorter and there is already talk of a replacement arriving in January, that man being Brandon Williams of Manchester United who was being linked with the club in August.

The bad news is that it appears that contract talks with both seem to have made little progress in the last week or so, that is not necessarily ringing alarm bells though, in the case of Ings he has had other things to worry about in getting fit again after his knee operation.

Hasenhuttl had this to say.

"Every player who wants to extend their contract here, and that we want to extend, we show them that we want them and we show them that we really want them to be here, but we also show them that we have our limits and I think that this is very healthy for the club.

"Whatever they are asking for, that's okay, they can ask for anything - but if we are not the club that can offer them this then they must go somewhere else. That is very easy, I think.

"For us, that is a very clear way of showing our clear limits. We are following this and anyone who wants to be a part of this is invited to do it, if not then he must go somewhere else,"

The message from Hasenhuttl is clear, that Saints have limits in what they can offer players and can't be held to ransom on wage demands, it is not great to hear this, but the Austrian knows that no matter what League you are in there are those that are richer than others, Saints have their restrictions, he can live with that and so do any of the players.

He knows that there are two issues the first being where the club is in the challenge for honours and the second is what they will offer in wages, the two are not exclusively linked.

He like most Saints fans would be gutted if Danny Ings was to leave, but if it was for a Big Six club who have a chance of honours or European football he could understand it, but there are several clubs out there who will pay their players big money although they have not chellenged for a top six place and are in no better a place than Saint.

Hopefully Danny Ings can see what Hasenhuttl is trying to do here and he will listen to his heart, even his head and not his agent.

Photo: Action Images

darthvader added 08:45 - Nov 28 Danny could be a proper legend here if he signs an extension.
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DellBoyWally added 09:57 - Nov 28 Nice to see Ralph lay things out. Refreshing after the last decade or so. Wherever Danny goes he would be "backup", and he is better than that. Without his injuries at Anfield I could imagine him as England's stand out No1 No9! He can be that with Saints. Or he can accept being a No2 somewheres else for more money and some silver ware. An Idol or an Idler??
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ElijahK added 11:41 - Nov 28 This is simply just the same case that we’ve had every time we’ve had a decent player! I mean this is what happened with Lallana, Rickie (though at least he was honest about it, and wasn’t doing it for the money), Schniderlyn, Clyne, Van Dijk, Shaw, Lovern, Wanyama etc. And out of all hose lot, only really 2 turned out that decent (with maybe 1 or 2 not gaining their full talent but doing ok). I mean if Ings goes to a ‘top 6’ team then he’ll just be on the bench, won’t be playing, meaning that he’ll get removed from the England squad, won’t enjoy football as much etc! And what all that’s just for a bit more money!? I mean I honestly don’t see him leaving as Ings knows this, and in the end he is from here and is one of our own which is why I think he’ll stay and maybe be a bit of a Vardy like player (as he seems to get better the older he gets!)

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underweststand added 11:50 - Nov 28 I think Ralph is right. These days it's the agents who do most of the talking as they try to improve their % in a better deal and delay things and try to force the club to give a better deal, the rest of us want them to stop playing silly bu**ggers and get it sorted ASAP. From his point of view Ralph needs to know who he can depend on longer term, and who needs to replacing. The Hojbjerg deal was a typical example. I'm sure we wanted him to stay, but the longer he delayed, the less fee we could demand from Spurs. I hope that Danny Ings is satisfied to stay, but the Ryan Bertrand situation is problematic. If he wants to stay , I'm fine with that but after January he can negotiate his own future and we would get a pittance if he leaves, and NOTHING if he waits until June. We are very thin on the ground for full backs (let alone experienced ones) and the sooner we know what Bertrand is thinking - the better. I like Bertrand as a player, as he is experienced and - for the most part - quite dependable.. so come on Ryan, either sign up ..or pack up.

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Chesham_Saint added 12:00 - Nov 28 I wouldn’t say Bertrand is at the “tail end of his career”. Towards the end yes, but he’s playing as well as ever and injury aside, should have a few more years at a high level. As for Ings, if money is his motivation then we simply can’t compete. So it really comes down to what he can achieve. If he went to say, Arsenal and got an FA Cup winners medal for coming on as a sub, then good for him but he’ll really only be remembered for that in his own family. However, if he stays with Saints and achieves something, he will be a true club legend in an area he comes from - not just another long forgotten also-ran for a ‘big’ team. I know which I’d prefer if I was him.

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I_would added 12:59 - Nov 28 I think Ward Prowse should have a contract extension until he retires. It's a bit mean only giving him 5 years. He could always do a bit of paperwork in the office if he can't run, run and run anymore.
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CheshireSaint added 15:36 - Nov 28 Look lets be honest unless Saints get an offer from scousepool possibly Tottenham a European club like Juventus and Dortmund etc if a player moves itll be purely financial Saints looking like they could get European football...it looks like we're back to at least Koeman quality Saints, lets just hope our players and the gaffer have a bit more loyalty..
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CheshireSaint added 15:36 - Nov 28 Look lets be honest unless Saints get an offer from scousepool possibly Tottenham a European club like Juventus and Dortmund etc if a player moves itll be purely financial Saints looking like they could get European football...it looks like we're back to at least Koeman quality Saints, lets just hope our players and the gaffer have a bit more loyalty..
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