GAVIN Mahon says the next month will decide his future at Notts County.
The 35-year-old midfielder turned down the chance to join Port Vale or Bristol Rovers on loan just 13 days ago.
But he has dropped a big hint he will be prepared to leave Meadow Lane in January if he does not play more games in the next few weeks.
He has not started one league game for Notts this season – and made only his third start of the campaign in their FA Cup draw at Rotherham United.
He was tempted to go to Vale on loan deadline day and has even wondered at times this season if he made the right decision to sign a new one-year deal in the summer.
"You do think like that sometimes, when you travel halfway across the country to get splinters in your backside, but that's football, you have to wait for your chance to come," he said.
"Thankfully I got a game in the cup, which was good.
"Port Vale are flying high and are half an hour away from where I live and it was tempting because I'm at an age where I want to be playing.
"I spoke to the gaffer and he said he wanted me to try and get in his side and come January, if things haven't changed, then he would understand it.
"I told him the last thing I want to do is leave a club like Notts, but when you get to my age you have got to play, especially if you want to go on and play next season.
"Everyone knows how hard it is when you're out of contract and you haven't played many games in a season, so we'll have to get to January and see where we go from there."
