PLAYER manager Marty Pask said he would give St Kilda all the time it needed to offer new contracts to Zac Dawson and Farren Ray as speculation on the future of both players mounted.

Speaking on afl.com.au's Trade Week Radio, Pask said although contracts had not been finalised for either Dawson or Ray, both were required players and fully committed to the Saints.

Speculation on St Kilda's trade week moves intensified after it was revealed its salary cap was strained and head of football Chris Pelchen admitted the club needed to ease pressure on the cap.

However, Pask said talk of Dawson and Ray moving on was merely speculation.

"Whenever a player is out of contract I think that's where a lot of things start and I guess that's probably where it should end," Pask said.

"They are out of contract, so people are going to speculate and try and join the dots and create things and different scenarios and situations.

"They're required players at St Kilda. We (Pask and St Kilda) had chats on Friday and over the weekend about keeping Zac and Farren at the football club.
 
"Farren is 100 per cent committed to St Kilda, as is Zac."

Pask said he and his clients would trust the process St Kilda was going through.

"They have been up front with us and you do appreciate that from an agent and players' perspective," he said.

"We'll trust what they're going through and give them some time to come forward with some form of offer or way they can keep these boys at the club."

Pelchen said St Kilda's star players - including Brendon Goddard and Sam Gilbert - would not be sacrificed to create salary cap space.

He said negotiations with Dawson and Ray were continuing but would not go as far as guaranteeing them a spot for 2012.

"I wouldn't say negotiations have broken down - if anybody wants to suggest they have then they're wrong," Pelchen said.
 
"[But] negotiations are two-way. They've got their expectations and we've got our limitations and we're just working within that."   

No trades are official until paperwork has been accepted by the AFL and formally recognised after 2pm on Monday, October 17