The Albion future of Bas Savage is in the melting pot, negotiations with chairman Dick Knight over a new contract for the popular striker having stalled.

But Savage's representative remains hopeful of a positive outcome.

The former Gillingham and Reading front man's current deal with the Seagulls expires on December 31.

His agent, Kevin Horton, said: "Bas absolutely loves it at Brighton. The fans have made him very welcome.

"He is one of those sort of players who thrives on feedback from coaches. The two Deans (Wilkins and White) have made a very useful contribution to his career and he wants to stay, simple as that.

"But the reality is I met Dick in the middle of October and now we are six weeks further down the line.

"Negotiations haven't concluded. It would be inappropriate to go into specifics but we are hoping for a positive resolution very soon.

"Bas is having very little to do with it. He is content to let his feet do the talking. He has left it to me and is fully focused on his football."

The snags are thought to relate to Savage's wages and length of contract. He wants more security after joining Albion from Gillingham at the end of January.

Horton said: "Bas is 26 in January. A footballer's career is a very short term one. Security of contract is always very nice.

"Sometimes players at Bas's stage of development want to get to where they want to be quicker but that is not what he is saying.

"He wants to bed down and progress from within. You only have to look at the results a couple of weeks ago to realise the club have half-decent prospects of making the play-offs. Why move?

"He doesn't like the uncertainty but the advice from me has been to put it to the back of his mind."

Meanwhile, Albion boss Dean Wilkins has warned George O'Callaghan he is not an automatic pick for tomorrow's trip to Swindon.

O'Callaghan told The Argus he expects to play after making his comeback from a three-match suspension in the reserves at Bognor on Tuesday.

Wilkins is keeping the on-loan Ipswich midfielder guessing, with Tommy Fraser proving an able deputy in his absence.

Wilkins said: "It's difficult. What has happened this season is that players have bridged the gap.

"What were sometimes easy decisions last season have been made more difficult now because of players performances."

Tommy Elphick has been ruled out of his hoped-for comeback, despite the young centre half resuming full training yesterday following further hernia surgery.

"It is far too soon," said Wilkins. "He looks like he could do with a couple of sessions and maybe a game under his belt.

"That was his first full session with the group and hopefully we'll get no reaction from it. He seemed happy enough at the end."

Should Albion offer Savage what he is asking for?