Lewis Hunt won’t kick another ball for City – unless he agrees to drop a wage clause in his contract.

The defender was left out completely from the squad that lost to Torquay on Saturday.

And while he will be back in training as usual with his team-mates tomorrow morning, Hunt has been warned that he will not feature again if he is not prepared to renegotiate – something he is not willing to do at present.

Hunt has played 19 games since joining City on a one-season deal last summer. One more appearance would automatically trigger a further year on the same terms.

With next term’s budget expected to be much reduced, City will not give him that. They have asked Hunt to drop the clause but the right back has refused to budge.

Peter Jackson said: “Lewis can still be involved and still play if he agrees to pull the clause out. But he thinks we should have stuck by the contract.

“He can change his mind but that’s up to the player. I asked him again yesterday and I can’t see him doing that.

“It’s purely down to monetary terms. I’ve got one eye on next season’s budget and things are going to be massively tight.

“I was willing to talk about a new contract with Lewis but not on the same terms he has now. It’s disappointing but that’s his choice.”

Hunt, who was sidelined for four months with a serious knee injury, strung together a run of 11 straight games leading up to the clean sheet at Macclesfield eight days ago. He had also filled in well as a makeshift centre half.

Speaking to the T&A last week, he said: “It’s in the club’s hands (about my future). What will be, will be.

“I came up here with high expectations. I really thought we’d do well this season and it’s not worked out that way at all.”

Jackson watched former Middlesbrough teenager Phil Shead on trial at right back yesterday as the reserves won 1-0 at Port Vale.

But he admits City will have to make do in that role for the remaining six games, with Lee Bullock the most likely to fill in.

The interim boss added: “It’s been a problem position since I came to the club but I thought Bullock did okay there on Saturday, although he could have done better with one of the goals.

“It’s left us a little bit short, which is not ideal, but one more win will see us safe and ease things a bit.”