Last season’s A-League player of the year is unhappy with the two-year offer that has been put to him and wants at least four.

The 28-year-old still has a year to run on his existing contract but wants his future sorted sooner rather than later.

Griffiths says loyalty is a two-way street and says it shouldn’t always be a term to hit players with.

Coach Gary van Egmond told au.fourfourtwo.com this week that Griffiths was being considered for the marquee role next season. That would certainly boost the striker’s bank balance but the player is looking beyond immediate riches.

Griffiths is currently enjoying a loan spell with Japanese side Avispa Fukuoka and has already found the net for the club.

He has made no secret of his frustration at being omitted from the last Socceroos squad and may feel his international interests are better served by an overseas switch if the Jets are unwilling or unable to meet his demands.

He told the Newcastle Herald: “I want to make Newcastle my home and don't really want to play for any other A-League club.

“They (Newcastle) harp on about being loyal to the club, but they have to be loyal to the player as well. I think I have been pretty loyal to the club.
“I have come back from Europe and cut my salary. I did not even talk to any other A-League club. The club has to come to the party to an extent. The money was not what I expected."

As well claiming the Johnny Warren medal last year, Griffiths won the Golden Boot and enjoyed a clean sweep of the Jets' club awards.

He said: “I am not going to sell myself short. Without being big-headed or cocky, I know what I am worth on the field and off the field.”

His current coach has expressed the need for players to accept reality at EnergyAustralia Stadium. Van Egmond told this website: “Joel as a marquee is one of the issues we are looking at. There is an opportunity for a marquee with one or two spots still to fill in the attacking third.

“I suppose it’s a question of looking at what we are getting for our dollars when we look at that (marquee) spot or even within the salary cap.

“We are not the biggest club in the competition and you can’t just be asking players to name their price. It doesn’t work that way.

“Players looking for a new or improved deal at this football club have to face the facts. We are not the biggest club in the competition. We strive to be the best and we have had and will continue to strive for success.

“But there are certain facts that you cannot get away from. It’s like saying why doesn’t Fulham compete with Manchester United in the transfer market and spend the money that they do? They don’t because they can’t, they just don’t have it, fact!

“As a club we want to bring in and want to keep our quality players but we are where we are in terms of what we are able and prepared to do.”