TOMMY Mooney jetted off for a three-week holiday today admitting that it looked 'increasingly unlikely' that he would be lining up in the Town attack next season.

With player and club sticking firmly to their respective guns, the 32-year-old is pessimistic that a last-gasp deal will be done to extend his stay at the County Ground.

Town insist Mooney has been made the best offer they can afford, but the player is not prepared to accept the deal currently on the table.

He said: "It never entered my head that the match I played at Brighton in the play-offs could be my last match in a Swindon shirt, it honestly didn't. It is very frustrating but here we are.

"It is the only the fact that I genuinely want to stay which has led to this situation going on for as long as it has. As I've said, if it was simply about money and going to the highest bidder, I could have signed somewhere else weeks ago.

"I haven't done that, but it looks increasingly likely that I will have to look elsewhere. It's very strange."

Mooney is adamant that he would have signed a new deal back in December had it been forthcoming after discussions over an extended stay, and that would have fitted within the club's wage structure.

He said: "I came to Swindon to work hard and to score goals. I'd like to think that's what I've done. Some stability would be nice. I was on the move a lot the year before I came here and that's not what I want.

"If I'd come in and not made a contribution or scored a goal then I could understand the reluctance. But that's not been the case.

"Of course money comes into it but there is also a principle. What was being talked about then is not what is on offer now."

Mooney's telephone will stay on during his break, but the odds are that discussions will be stepped up with other interested parties.

The Evening Advertiser/STFC player of the year said: "My feelings are still the same in terms of what I want from a club. I don't want to uproot the family and want to play for a club that has a realistic chance of achieving something and I want to end my career with a medal."

Bristol City have publicly expressed an interest in Mooney with Walsall also thought to be chasing the former Birmingham man's signature.

A move to Ashton Gate would see Mooney link up with former Watford teammate Keith Millen.

Meanwhile, Hull City boss Peter Taylor is pondering whether to increase the Tigers' offer for Mooney's strike partner Sam Parkin.

A £250,000 bid was rejected out of

hand last week but Taylor feels a quarter-of-a-million pounds is a more than realistic offer for Town's leading scorer.

He said: "I think that's a very fair and very honest price in today's market. To be honest, I don't see too many clubs offering that type of money especially for a Second Division striker.

"His record speaks for itself. He's really come through during the last couple of seasons and has scored almost 50 goals for Swindon.

"He's someone I've been interested in for quite a while. It's disappointing it hasn't happened because I thought we stood a good chance at that price.

"We'll talk things through but I don't know whether we'll go back. As I've said, I think £250,000 is very fair."