by Andy Howell, Western Mail
WALES try king Shane Williams has revealed his future at the Ospreys is clouded in uncertainty.
The shock news will stun supporters of Wales' flagship region and prompt interest from the biggest clubs in European rugby.
Williams' contract at the Liberty Stadium runs out at the end of the season and he insisted there's nothing firm on the table from Ospreys' power-brokers.
"I have been talking to the Ospreys and I want to stay, but I don't have a concrete offer from them at present," explained the 33-year-old.
Williams raised his record Wales try tally to a staggering 53 with the double strike which helped clinch a pressure-relieving 24-6 Six Nations victory over Scotland at Murrayfield last weekend. Those touchdowns took his European Championship total to 22, just one behind Ireland great Brian O'Driscoll and two down on record-holder Ian Smith, the Flying Scotsman who crossed 24 times in the 1920s and 1930s.
Wales' next opponents are Italy in Rome a week on Saturday and that encounter could give Williams a chance to become Six Nations top dog.
Williams disclosed he has put his plans for the rest of his career on hold until the championship concludes next month.
"I've put off contract talks about my future until after the Six Nations because I have to focus on Wales for the time being," he said.
Many rugby followers would regard it as unthinkable that the Ospreys wouldn't fight tooth and nail to hold on to their biggest crowd-puller.
They have already seen Gavin Henson walk out of the door and he will be followed by James Hook, Wales star Lee Byrne and international prop Craig Mitchell at the end of the season.
And the Ospreys are prepared to listen at any offers for Mike Phillips, despite the Lions scrum-half having more than three years remaining on his £1m deal.
Henson left for Saracens but is now with England legend Jonny Wilkinson at big-spending Toulon. Hook, the orchestrator of Wales' victory in Scotland, has signed a mega £1.5m three-year contract with Perpignan and Byrne a bumper deal with Clermont Auvergne.
Wales tighthead prop Mitchell is poised to leave at the end of the season with English club Exeter Chiefs confident they have secured his services.
French champions Clermont, and Heineken Cup holders Toulouse are in pursuit of Lions and Wales lock star Alun Wyn Jones, the Ospreys captain.
His current deal is up at the end of the campaign and he confirmed: "I am in talks with the Ospreys but there has been interest from France."
Pocket rocket Williams, 34 later this month, admitted he might be forced to move on with Clermont certain to be among those interested in one of world rugby's hottest properties.
"I'll have to see what materialises but there is interest in me from France... I don't want to say specifically where from ... and that is something I may also have to consider," he said.
"If it came to it I would have to sit down with my wife Gail and go through the possibilities. A few of the Ospreys players have decided to try their hands in French rugby and good luck to them.
"I think Perpignan will be perfect for Hooky and Lee will flourish as well at Clermont Auvergne.
"Whether I would end up following them out there, I genuinely don't know. I've always said I'm a home bird at heart. I've never left my valley and never really had any desire to.
"I think I've got two years left in me playing rugby though and the time will soon come when I have to make concrete plans about where I spend them."
Ospreys bosses rebuffed a big-money attempt by Toulon to lure Williams away from Wales 12 months ago. They insisted then he wasn't for sale at any price and had to honour the remainder of his contract.
Williams is third on Test rugby's try-scoring list behind Japan winger Daisuke Ohata (69) and Australian legend David Campese (64).
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbyn...spreys-contract-talks-on-hold-91466-28170156/
, basically the program looks at him setting up a youth club back at his home in Amman. He did mention in the first episode he would like to stay at the Ospreys for the rest of his career, so make of that what you will. Ospreys are tight with their money when it comes to paying their Welsh players, happy to fork out the cash for foreign imports but not for their best Welsh players ... makes sense.
