after two seasons in which england's u21 coach peter taylor and a number of premier league clubs had reportedly taken an interest in him, harding was preparing to move on. with his contract expiring at the end of the 2004–05 season, he expressed an interest in a new long term deal at the club and was initially offered a new two-year contract in 2004. delays in resolving the negotiations led manager mcghee to publicly express unhappiness, with harding denying he had turned down a new deal. in february 2005, mcghee re-opened contract talks with harding but three months later harding rejected the revised deal.