CHRIS Smith says committing his future to Worcester City beyond the end of the season depends on what league the team is in next year.

The St George's Lane skipper, who is staying with the club after two separate bids from AFC Telford United were rejected, is out of contract at the end of the current campaign.

He has an option of a one-year extension but is waiting to see if City are switched to Blue Square South for 2008/09.

As things stand, six of the bottom seven clubs in the Premier, including all in the relegation zone, are northern.

With Kettering, another side who could be considered for a move, eight points clear at the top of the North and heading for promotion, City could well be switched.

Derby-based Smith said: "I've got until the end of the season when my contract's up.

"I've got an option but that's not even been discussed yet. We shall have to see what the chairman and the manager want to do but there's this conflict of whether we are in the southern section or not.

"If we are moved to the southern section then I'll have to decide whether I'll sign or not purely for the fact of the travelling.

"It's an hour-and-a-half to Worcester so I'm just going to have to discuss it if that happens, but it's all ifs and buts. I'm here to the end of the season, that's it really."

Smith is happy the Telford situation has been resolved after City chiefs decided to turn down an offer of £5,000 plus appearance add-ons.

But his comeback from an ankle problem against Blyth Spartans on Saturday, his first run-out of 2008, was cut short after he aggravated the injury before half-time.

The central defender is now hoping to see a consultant this week in a bid to get to the bottom of the problem.

He said: "After everything that happened with Telford I just wanted to come back, get my head down and play well and keep fit but after 15 minutes I was struggling.

"Hopefully I can see the consultant this week because when I saw him in September he said if it happened again he would look in with a camera to see if there are any problems.

"If it means having another injection then so be it.

"It's not ideal though because it hides the injury but hopefully there's nothing wrong with my ankle and it's just a kick."

City's rearranged match at Nuneaton Borough will take place on Tuesday, February 12 (7.45pm).