Josh Schache will tell Brisbane if he will stay or leave during the club’s bye week

JOSH Schache is expected to tell Brisbane if he’ll stay a Lion or leave during the club’s bye week as his manager slams rumours circling the young forward.

Josh Schache celebrates a Brisbane goal.

BRISBANE is expecting an answer from Josh Schache at the bye break about whether he stays or returns to Victoria.

The Lions remain in the dark about the prized - and out-of-form - key forward, but have been consistently assured by Schache’s manager David Trotter major talks would held on Brisbane’s bye weekend, which is in two weeks.

It is a deadline of sorts for Schache and if he says he still hasn’t made up his mind, the Lions might have to begin list planning without him.

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Trotter told the Herald Sun Schache had yet to make a decision.

“He needs time at the moment,’’ he said.

“To be honest, Josh is dealing with a few things in terms of form and some personal things he’s trying to work on.

Josh Schache in action for Brisbane against GWS last year.

“It means he’s not ready to commit at this stage.’’

As speculation continues about the Seymour teenager, Trotter also dismissed media reports he was shopping around Schache at an asking price of $3.5 million over five years.

Trotter labelled the reports as “irresponsible’’ and “inaccurate’’.

Schache, 19, is out of contract at the end of the season has been linked to several clubs.

“I understand the interest in him, big key forward, early pick, Brisbane, but some of the reports out there there are really irresponsible,’’ Trotter said.

“What’s been reported that we’re asking for $3.5 million over five years ... that number has been plucked from thin air because that has not come form us.’’

Trotter spoke to ease pressure on Schache.

“The pressure he is under, he's not ready to make a decision yet,’’ he said.

Josh Schache takes a strong mark over Easton Wood. Picture: Colleen Petch

“He’s not fully comfortable and it’s only making it harder on him all this speculation, the abuse he’s copping for it, from fans, social media, all these pressures which people don’t realise these young boys are under.

“He’s 19, it’s Round 9, he’s not sitting here at Round 22 and not made a decision.’’

He accepted there was interest in Schache’s future.

“We don’t like running commentary on contracts but this one has got out of hand,’’ he said.

“There’s literally not been a dollar amount spoken with any club and we have not taken an offer from any club.

“We’ve been asked the question about Josh, what’s he doing, where’s he at, which is the same questions asked about other players we have out of contract.

Josh Schache celebrates a goal with Mitch Robinson.

“The conversation hasn’t gone any further with clubs.

“I’m telling clubs that until his mindset changes, it might be three of four weeks, it might be later, he might stay in Brisbane, but at this stage he’s not ready to make that call yet

“All these rumours don’t help.

“There’s even been a club which has been mentioned, and I won’t say which club, but this club is leading the race for him. I can say that club has not made one inquiry about him.

It’s understood that club is one of three - Richmond, Carlton or Collingwood - who had been linked to Schache in media reports.;

Schache is a horrible form slump and is likely to be axed from the senior team this weekend.

If Schache does declare to the club he wants to leave Brisbane, the Lions would likely ask for two first-round picks as a trade.

Originally published as Josh Schache will tell Brisbane if he will stay or leave during the club’s bye week