OUT-of-contract Gold Coast co-captain Steven May wants to stay at the Suns, but his commitment hinges on the club demonstrating it is heading in the right direction.

The Suns, who like the Lions have faced a constant battle to retain key players, are confident May, one of the game’s leading defenders, will reject offers from Victorian clubs and stick with the young team.

The signing would rebuff clubs such as Melbourne and Collingwood who are thought to be interested in the 25-year-old.

But Gold Coast and May’s management are yet to begin talks about a new deal. The demand for May is such that he could comfortably command a minimum of $700,000 per year on the open market, and possibly more given the scarcity of key defenders.

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May ranks with Greater Western Sydney’s Josh Kelly, Richmond’s Dustin Martin and Fremantle’s Nat Fyfe as the game’s most valued out-of-contract players. He is not a free agent though, and could only join a club via a trade.

While there has been speculation that May is waiting to see the fate of Rodney Eade and who coaches the team next year, sources said this was incorrect, and that May’s decision rested on what was described as a more ‘holistic’ look at the club’s operations.

The Suns have had a range of issues including player behaviour and concern about welfare, and have been seen as a club that can be raided, particularly by Victorian sides, as Richmond (Dion Prestia) and Hawthorn (Jaeger O’Meara) demonstrated this past off-season.

May is shaping as the club’s most important signing, given his leadership, relative youth and the problems the Suns have had in retaining talent, with Gary Ablett still thought to be keen on a return home to Geelong.

The Suns seem likely to take a strong stance on defender Jarrod Harbrow’s drink-driving charge, with Harbrow expected to be suspended for at least two matches. The club is yet to confirm its penalty.

It has also accepted Jack Martin’s version of events, namely that he was assaulted outside a Broadbeach nightclub on Saturday night when coming home with his girlfriend.

While Ablett has flagged his wish to return to Victoria for family reasons, almost certainly to play for the Cats, the Suns are talking tough and saying they will not let him go for a Sam Mitchell-type price of a meaningless draft pick.