By Mark Heys
December 26 2005

Sam Allardyce has confirmed that long serving goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen is yet to sign a new contract with Bolton Wanderers and concedes that the Finnish international may leave the Reebok Stadium. The 30-year old has been with the Trotters since November 1997 and is currently the longest serving player on the Wanderers books but Allardyce revealed that negotiations over a new deal have hit a serious snag.

Jaaskelainen verbally agreed to sign a new three-year extension last summer but it was recently revealed that no documentation had been signed to prolong the players stay at the club.

Bolton boss Allardyce told the official website that there is a stand off over a legality in the contract and furthermore explained that the club would be prepared to lose one of their prized assets for a fee rather than on a Free Transfer when the current deal comes to an end in 2007.

"It is true we have not resolved our contract negotiations with Jussi, the situation is one that looks like it might not be resolved from a legal point of view." said Allardyce.

"There is a stand-off in terms of a legality of a contract that other players have signed here. At the moment, he doesn't want to sign, and we don't believe that we should give him something different to what other players have signed here.

"Jussi is a valuable asset and if he isn't going to sign his contract, then the club may wish to cash in at some stage. That could be in January or at the end of the season if we have not resolved the situation."

Despite this latest development Jaaskelainen is expected be in the Bolton side which faces Sunderland at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.