Carlisle United boss Keith Curle is calling for an "official answer" from Alex McQueen in a bid to resolve the right-back's contract saga.
The Blues manager says that, while he has had informal discussions with the defender's agent, a more concrete response is now needed to United's offer of a new deal.
Curle, whose side face Warrington in their latest pre-season friendly tonight (Cantilever Park, 7pm), says it will not help if the matter continues to "hang over" the club as the new campaign draws closer.
The United boss said: "There has been an exchange of emails, and there has been dialogue between myself, [head of recruitment] Lee Dykes and Alex's representative, but ultimately the club needs an official answer in writing to the offer we made.
"It's not something we want hanging over ourselves."
Curle still wants McQueen to rejoin United for a second campaign despite the situation taking much longer to resolve than other contract matters at the club.
The Carlisle boss assessed another right-back trialist earlier in pre-season but later released him.
It means the door is still open for 21-year-old former McQueen.
Curle last week said he had heard on the grapevine that Premier League club Bournemouth may have been showing interest in the former Tottenham Under-21 player.
The Blues boss stressed Carlisle would be entitled to compensation if McQueen goes elsewhere.
"We selected Alex, gave him the opportunity, and because of his age, the ruling is we're entitled to compensation if somebody else wants to continue his progression, or if Alex doesn't see his natural progression with us," Curle said.
"There are different factors. He's a young man, living away from his family, living away from Carlisle, but as a project he came in and had 21-22 starts and we feel it was a good bit of business from ourselves.
"It shows the length our recruitment is going to pluck somebody from Tottenham to bring him up here and have an impact at the club, and a massive stepping stone in his development.
"Sometimes you get players who want to continue that at other clubs, and that is their entitlement, but we're entitled to compensation if they go elsewhere."
Remaining trialists - keeper Ian McLoughlin and forward Junior Joachim - could get another chance to impress at Warrington tonight.
Charlie Wyke is also close to a return from injury as United emerge from a three-day training camp at Mottram Hall in Cheshire.
Tonight's friendly against the newly-promoted Evo-Stik Northern Premier side was arranged partly through Warrington chairman Toby Macormac, a former general manager with Eddie Stobart.
The Yellows will include former £400,000 Bristol City striker Steven Gillespie.
Curle said: "Stobarts have got a depot in Warrington and they came to our aid after the floods by transporting some of the new turf and other things to Carlisle.
"They asked for us to play a game down there, and we couldn't do enough for them, because they were on hand straight away to help us when needed.
"They've got some good players and some good backing."