ST KILDA has been in talks with Nick Dal Santo about his future with the club.

Dal Santo’s current contract with the Saints is due to expire at the end of October but he has met objectives that would trigger an extra year.

The All-Australian’s future has been the subject of some conjecture in recent times, with one report on Wednesday linking him to North Melbourne.

But St Kilda Head of Football Chris Pelchen said it was drastic to jump to conclusions just yet.

“No decision has been made to release Nick. I’ve got to highlight that to our supporters. He has been a long and decorated player with our club and there is every chance that he will still be with us next year,” Pelchen said.

“They are normal discussions that take place when a player is out of contract and until a new contract is presented to the AFL, Nick is still an uncontracted player in a theoretical sense.”

Pelchen said the next step was to discuss the contract situation with the midfielder and his management.

“Ultimately it is an acceptance by both parties that they want to commit to each other because in terms of qualifying for that trigger, Nick has done that. He had a medical and game situation in his current contract,” Pelchen told Melbourne radio station 3AW.

“They have both been achieved so now it is a case of both parties sitting down and saying they want to recommit to each other.”

Pelchen said Dal Santo’s input to the discussions was as important as the club’s.

“We respect Nick’s decision to have his input into this decision and we are having those discussions with Tom Petroro, his manager at the moment,” Pelchen said.

“There is no definitive position that has been reached and we have got to be respectful of Nick’s opinion in this and we are having those discussions at the moment.”