THE futures of key Crows Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane remain up in the air, with the captaincy candidates refusing to commit to the club.

One day after star forward Taylor Walker inked a new long-term deal to stay at Adelaide, Dangerfield fended off questions about his future, saying “it’s great to see that Taylor has signed on, but as I’ve said before there’s no time limit with that.

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“My focus at the moment is solely on preparing for this international series (against Ireland) and Adelaide’s season next year.’’

Sloane’s future was also left hanging, with his manager, Ned Guy, refusing to shed any light on the ace midfielder’s contract status.

media_camera Taylor Walker has re-signed but Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane are yet to commit. Picture: Sarah Reed

Guy simply said: “Our company policy (McDonald Sports and Talent Management) is to not provide running commentary on player contracts’’.

The Crows are desperate for the ace midfield pair — out of contract at the end of next season — to join Walker in committing their long term futures to the club, particularly as they consider a new captain for 2015.

Walker has re-signed until the end of 2018 and has emerged as a surprising captaincy candidate if new coach Phil Walsh wants to replace incumbent Nathan van Berlo.

Dangerfield and Sloane — appointed co-captains this year after van Berlo suffered a serious Achilles injury in the pre-season — are the fans’ choices to be Adelaide’s next skipper.

media_camera Patrick Dangerfield in action for Australia.

But the Crows would be reluctant to anoint either of them in the main on-field leadership role while there is a chance they could bolt at the end of next season.

Sloane, 24, has publicly stated his desire to stay at West Lakes but is yet to put pen to paper.

Dangerfield, 24 and a restricted free agent at the end of next season, has long been considered the most likely of Adelaide’s “Big Three’’ to leave.

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If Dangerfield remains unsigned he will create a bidding war for his services and will be most tempted by the possibility of joining Geelong — the AFL club closest to his family home at Moggs Creek.

Dangerfield threw his support behind van Berlo continuing as captain, saying “I don’t think it’s up for grabs.

“I have been really strong on the fact that Nathan has been a terrific leader and continues to be with our football club.

“We have a great group of young leaders at the club. But Nathan’s standing within our team is certainly unquestioned within our four walls.”

Walsh said he’d like an answer on Dangerfield and Sloane’s futures “early’’, rather than wait until next season.

But Dangerfield, in particular, seems intent on dragging the process out.

He said his current focus was on Australia’s International Rules Test match against Ireland at Perth’s Patersons Stadium on Saturday.

Originally published as Crow concern as Danger, Sloane stall