THE last time Gary Mason was left in limbo without a club it was the worst experience of his 16-year career.

And the midfielder fears he will have to relive that torment this summer if Dunfermline don’t renew his contract.

Mason faces a hellish four-day wait before discovering if he has a Pars future after relegation from the SPL.

The 32-year-old wants to stay and help the Fifers get out of the First Division.

But, with 14 players out of contract after today’s game against Kilmarnock, Mason is preparing for bad news in the wake of Tuesday’s board meeting.

Boss Jim Jefferies will reveal who is being kept on the following day and Mason said: “I don’t have a clue what is going to happen. It’s not in our hands.

“I had it a couple of years ago after leaving St Mirren and it’s not nice. I didn’t play for around three months and was training on my own.

“I eventually got a short-term deal at Hamilton and was delighted something came up because the longer you wait the harder it gets.

“I just had to keep myself fit and wait for the phone to ring. That was probably the worst period of my career.

“Those three months felt like an eternity. You think you won’t have stages like that in your career but it shows you the harsh realities of football.

“It’s not easy and I found that out. When you have a young family to support it can be quite straining.

“After Hamilton, Jim McIntyre brought me to Dunfermline until the end of the season and I got another year after that. I have to thank him for that”

Mason has spent nine years of his career at Dunfermline over two spells at East End Park. So the midfielder was as gutted as anyone when they dropped out of the top flight with defeat to Hibs last Monday.

Now he wants to stay and help the club get back up immediately.

Mason said: “We’re down but want to bounce back as quickly as we can.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been involved in a club with so many boys out of contract. However, I want to stay as I enjoy it here. This club has been close to me and, given the opportunity, I’d love to get us back to where we want to be.

“But a lot of clubs are making cuts and for players out of contract football has got a lot worse in the last few years.

“If there’s something there you have to jump on it. You can’t wait around.

“Hopefully we’ll know after the board meeting on Tuesday. We’ll have to sit down and talk with the gaffer but in a few days we’ll have a good idea what’s going to happen.”

Today’s clash with Killie might be meaningless but Mason wants to finish a sad season with a win.

He said: “We’re all professionals and will give it everything. It won’t be easy after the week we’ve had but we have to give it our best shot.”