WIGAN and Saints are set to rival Warrington Wolves for Richard Myler's signature at the end of the Super League season.

Wolves face keen competition for the 19-year-old Salford scrum-half who has turned down a lucrative four-year contract from the City Reds.

Reds chairman John Wilkinson has confirmed "a few clubs" have approached Salford recently to inquire about Myler's availability.

Wilkinson today broke his silence and assured Salford fans he has been doing everything in his power to try and keep Myler.

Wilkinson told MEN Sport: "I really did expect Richard to sign the new four-year contract offered to him.

"I also need to make quite clear that this issue has not been going on for a couple of weeks, it's been taking place for a number of months. We made Richard a very good offer. He's young and we felt four years would have given him plenty of security.

"We at Salford have given him every opportunity to develop his game after we brought him in from Widnes.

"We also pointed out to Richard how our coach Shaun McRae has a very good record of working and developing young half-backs.

Difficult

"When he was coaching Saints he had Bobbie Goulding, Tommy Martyn and Sean Long. He then nurtured Graham Horne and Paul Cooke at Hull and has also developed Chris Thorman at Gateshead. Shaun has always had the confidence to give youngsters their chance. We've already given Richard a lot of game time and exposure.

"He is a good player and I naturally want to keep him and right now I find myself in a very difficult position."

MEN Sport can reveal the Reds' chairman held a special one-on-one meeting with Myler.

Sources close to Myler say he has told Reds he is simply leaving things in the hands of his agent Martin Offiah regarding his future. If this is the case, this appears to leave Salford facing an uphill battle to keep their prize asset. Offiah has kept a number of leading Super League clubs informed of developments with Myler.

One senior Salford official told MEN Sport last week that Offiah's handling of the Myler affair risked alienating the player with Salford fans.

Myler himself is expected to be sidelined for a further fortnight with a foot injury. He missed the defeat by Huddersfield on Friday and is unlikely to play against Saints on Friday.

Wigan have also been linked with Reds' youngster Jordan Turner but on a brighter note Luke Adamson is close to agreeing a new deal.

Chairman Wilkinson met with Barton residents last week to discuss stadium plans. He says Reds remain firmly committed to moving to the new stadium complex at Barton by the end of 2010.

The massive on-field benefits of the move have also been made clear to young Myler and Reds have pushed the boat out in a bid to keep him.

Wilkinson admits this leaves him and his fellow directors facing a big decision as to who will replace Myler if he does decide to move on.

Ideally Wilkinson wanted to build for the future around Myler but such plans may now need a re-think.

Elsewhere on the playing front, Aussie prop Craig Stapleton will be returning home at the end of the season.

On the injury front, Luke Adamson could return for the visitors Saints on Friday night. He has missed the last two games with an ankle injury.