Nottinghamshire confident Pietersen will see out contract

Kevin Pietersen on his way to a hundred for England A in India this week © Getty Images

The row surrounding the future of Kevin Pietersen at Nottinghamshire has taken another turn with a report in today's Daily Telegraph that he is now expected to stay at the county.

Last month, Pietersen publicly stated that he had played his last game for Nottinghamshire. "I cannot play for Notts any more," he said. "I have told them and if they do not allow me to leave I shall have to take legal action. A number of counties are interested in me. I would prefer to play in the First Division."

But with a year remaining on his four-year contract, Nottinghamshire have understandably been determined to hold on to Pietersen, one of England's rising stars. Pietersen threatened legal action, the county responded by insisting that he had no grounds on which to base a legal case.

And today, David Collier, Nottinghamshire's chief executive, reinforced reports that Pietersen would honour the last year of his contract. "He has not indicated that he will not be fulfilling his obligations and we have heard nothing about an industrial tribunal," he told The Daily Telegraph. "We feel there is a principle at stake and even if any action were started we would vigorously defend our position."

Opinions among the county's fans appears divided as to whether someone who is seen by many as a disruptive influence should stay, but almost everyone backs the county's hard stand.

"Some believe they should banish a clearly unhappy and seemingly disruptive influence from their ranks, while others contend that the player might have been better handled," wrote the Nottinghamshire Evening Post. "Whatever the case, the hope remains that Pietersen will see sense, make up with Nottinghamshire and treat us all to another vintage summer. But don't hold your breath"

"Before he let his views be known, I was one of his top fans," one supporter told the paper. "I felt the Trent Bridge admission price was worth it just to see him bat. But now I wouldn't go down the local park to watch him."