BRENTFORD'S contract offer to Jamie Fullarton has been withdrawn after the 27-year-old refused terms and they have released Scott Marshall, but the club may yet keep Stephen Hunt after deciding to make him an improved offer this week.

Fullarton did not report for training last Thursday, and Bees boss Wally Downes has now withdrawn the offer made to him in May, leaving the midfielder free to find another club.

He made 27 League appearances for The Bees last season after signing from Dundee United last summer, scoring one goal.

Defender Marshall, 29, was signed from Southampton in October, 1999, but a back injury in March 2001 kept him out for 18 months. He has made 75 league appearances, scoring three goals.

Meanwhile, Brighton manager Steve Coppell revealed on Monday that he may decide to abandon his attempts to sign Bees winger Hunt.

Speaking to the official Brighton website (www.seagulls.co.uk) about the transfer speculation surrounding the 22-year-old Irishman, the ex-Brentford boss declared that "Hunt is somebody who I have an interest in".

He added: "I was led to believe that he was going to be a free transfer, but I think that Brentford now want to negotiate a fee. I've really got to weigh up whether I want to go down that route.

"The tribunal system is now closed - you can't do conditional tribunals now. So if I chose to go to a tribunal we would have to accept whatever fee was given to us, and in this financial climate I'm not sure that I could put the club in that position."

In an exclusive interview on Bees World Hunt added that if the two clubs could not agree a fee, he would be talking to Brentford this week about a new contract. And Downes, having made Hunt a 'final offer' which he rejected, has now improved it.

Goalkeeper Paul Smith and skipper Michael Dobson have both signed extended contracts for Brentford.

Smirth, who could still attract a bid from Birmingham or Spurs, is now on a two-year deal whereas Dobson has signed for three years. Both previously had just a year left on their contracts.

Portsmouth striker Rowan Vine has told Bees he will sign for another season on loan - providing a First Division club does not come in for him.

Ex-Bee Paul Gibbs made a brief return to Brentford on Monday as part of his pre-season training. The Barnsley left-back has recovered from a long-standing groin injury that necessitated an operation in May, and wanted to work on his fitness ahead of The Tykes planned start on Wednesday.