THE Amateur Boxing Association's four-year deal to keep Amir Khan in the amateur ranks has been described as "paltry" by his agent, who says that half a dozen promoters are chasing the Bolton boxer.

Asif Vali says that Amir's reward for winning a silver medal at the Olympics amounts to just £9,000 per year.

The Amateur Boxing Association have offered a £280,000 deal over four years, but Vali insists that much of the funding was already there, irrespective of the Bolton boxer's success in Athens.

"The package has four elements," he said. "The first is the lottery grant which has gone up by £9,000, because Amir is now a category A athlete.

"The second element is £25,000 of expenses to cover his travelling and medical needs, which, although is being increased, was already in place. The third is a two-day, part-time job working to develop boxing for Liverpool City Council.

"If he doesn't want to do that then he will lose £10,000 per year. Amir is a student and travelling to Liverpool would be time consuming and he would need to have someone with him. I'm sure I could get him a role at Bolton or Bury Councils, which would be much more convenient.

"The fourth element is a £10,000 grant towards his education costs. Everybody wants Amir to stay an amateur but I have to secure a financial package for him, and this package is paltry.

"It is only about £9,000 more than if Amir had not won a medal.

"People need to know that Amir is not refusing a mega-package. He is not ungrateful, but there are two sides to the story.

"We are not rushing into anything and have not dismissed anything. We have asked the ABA for clarification on a number of points and hope to have another meeting with them in the next few days.

"We need to sort out what is right for Amir. He could have an injury next week, which could end his career, but if he turns professional, and there are half-a-dozen promoters interested in him, then he would get a big signing-on fee."

Vali added that he and Amir met the Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, and the Sports Minister, Richard Caborn, at this week's Labour Party Conference.

He added: "We made our views known to them, and hope they will have an influence when they next meet the ABA.

"Amir is doing his part. He is promoting boxing and is helping to promote the 2012 London bid. We want to get it right so Amir can stay an amateur."

ABA's development officer Paul King said: "The ABA can, at the moment, only offer what it can afford, as we need to ensure a future for the sport.

"A deal with the BBC is still being discussed, and we would be able to offer some other form of support from this initiative if it came to fruition.

"We are extremely grateful for any assistance Amir and his team can give towards the Government. We do hope things can be resolved shortly to gain some stability with a view to the future."

Amir will join the rest of Britain's Olympic heroes on a victory parade through central London next month.

Double goal medal winner Kelly Holmes will lead the parade, which will culminate with a celebration in Trafalgar Square.

Around 100 medal winners from Team GB, along with Paralympic medal winners in Athens, will also take part in the procession of floats on October 18, the British Olympic Association said.

Large screens in Trafalgar Square will show the parade in action, as well as highlights from the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Medal winners will be presented to the crowds in Trafalgar Square in a series of interviews with BBC Sport presenters.