STELIOS Giannakopoulos has been told he must wait until next season before a decision on his Reebok future.

Sam Allardyce plans to open contract talks with Henrik Pedersen in the next few weeks but says he is in no hurry to make a long-term decision on the Greek midfielder.

Unlike Pedersen, whose current deal runs out at the end of the season, Stelios still has another year to run on his contract.

And, although there has been speculation in his homeland that he could be heading back to Greece this summer, the Wanderers boss sees no reason to rush into negotiations - and has made it clear that, when talks eventually get under way, the 32-year-old former Olympiakos ace is only likely to be offered a one-year extension.

"When you get over 30, you're more inclined to be getting one-year deals rather than two or three-year deals, which we gave him last time," Allardyce said, recalling the three-year deal Wanderers negotiated with the Greece international at the start of last season.

"We'll wait and see how the situation develops."

Stelios, who joined Wanderers on a free transfer in the summer of 2003, could choose to cut his ties at the end of next season, when he would be entitled to a free transfer. That is a possibility Allardyce is prepared for.

The manager told Wanderers TV: "If Stelios ends up seeing his contract out here and moves back to Greece, or wherever, he will have been fantastic value for money, a tremendous player who will have been a tremendous servant for this club for very little money over the period of time we've employed him, and given us great, great rewards."

Pedersen's successful recovery from the Achilles injury that plagued him for more than a year, has seen him re-establish himself in the first team squad - he was preferred to Ricardo Gardner at left-back for the Blackburn game - and has helped convince Allardyce he still has a part to play at the Reebok.

"He loves to play, more than he is selected, but he copes with it," the manager said in tribute to the 33-year-old Dane's tolerance of a difficult situation.

"His biggest problem has been the injuries that have kept him out, more than me leaving him out."

Allardyce has hinted that Pedersen's recent injury record could be reflected in any new contract offer he receives.

"I have to analyse over the last two years how often Henrik's been available to play," he added. "That's a key issue today in the Premiership as we look to keep smaller and smaller squads and need to keep players as fit as we possibly can."