Dan Harding's Albion future is in doubt again today after he held back from signing a new contract.

The England under-21 leftback is keeping his options open and will not make a decision until early next month, when he returns from a family holiday.

Manager Mark McGhee revealed to The Argus in March that Harding had told him he wanted to sign.

The situation was not so clearcut when the players reported back yesterday from a break in Spain.

McGhee said: "I've spoken to Dan and he is still hedging his bets but I have still not ruled out Dan re-signing. I am disappointed. I expected him to get the season out of the way and get it done."

Harding's current deal expires shortly and a new offer has been on the table for months.

McGhee remains convinced it is in Harding's best interests to commit himself to the Seagulls for another season.

"My advice is that he still should stay," McGhee said. "If he leaves now he will go to another club at our level, which may represent a change but not real progress, or a bigger club where he will be a reserve player trying to work his way onto the bench and then into the team.

"If he stays here for another year and performs as well as he did for us towards the end of the season then another club would be taking him straight into their first team."

Chairman Dick Knight has finalised details of Leon Knight's new contract with the player's agent. The former Chelsea striker will sign for another year on Monday.