Southampton have placed defender Danny Higginbotham on the transfer list after he refused a new deal at St Mary's.

The 27-year-old moved to the South Coast from Derby in 2003 and has been a regular member of The Saints squad both in The Premiership and The Championship.

However, his days at the club appear to be numbered after manager George Burley confirmed he had been transfer listed after rejecting a second new contract.

Higginbotham turned down a new deal from Southampton last season and has now rejected the club's advances once again.

The former Manchester United trainee is keen for a new challenge away from Southampton and Burley concedes he cannot keep a player who does not want to be at the club.

"It's very disappointing but if he does not want to stay then there is no point in forcing him," Burley told the club's official website.

"He turned down a new contract last season and we have come back with an improved offer but he has rejected that.

"He feels he wants to move and his agent has asked us to circulate his name, which we have reluctantly agreed to do."