The Magpies captain is out of contract at the end of 2021 and went public with a thinly-veiled threat this weekend when speaking about his future in an interview with Triple M.

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The 33-year-old’s future with Collingwood is up in the air after he admitted interest in moving into a coaching position with a rival club as he continues to negotiate a playing contract extension with Collingwood.

According to reports, Pendlebury is likely to remain with the Pies, despite being frustrated about a contract offer only being made one week ago.

Fremantle and Gold Coast have been linked with Pendlebury since the interview.

Pendlebury’s public comments calling on the club to “put a package together” have earned a bake from footy greats Nick Riewoldt and Kane Cornes.

Pendlebury’s dilemma comes at a time when Collingwood is at crisis point, having self-combusted since the disastrous 2020 Trade Period.

Riewoldt was surprisingly scathing of Pendlebury’s move when speaking to Fox Footy’s On The Couch.

“I finished my career with three or four one-year deals and it p***ed me off,” he said.

“And I thought I deserved better. You can be p***ed off at that, but to publicly shop yourself and say, ‘Hey, put packages to me’. As a leader of that football club and as a guy that has been treated really well by the Collingwood football club – and he’s been great for Collingwood as well, he’s never put a foot wrong – but I thought it was language that was a bit beneath him. And that’s from a guy that I really respect.

“I think as a leader of the club, at a time when they are bleeding as a football club, you can fight the fight privately, internally. But to fight the fight publicly, to shop yourself around and say, ‘Hey put a package in front of me and I’ll have a look at it’. I just thought it was language that was beneath a guy like Scott Pendlebury.”

Cornes was also staggered at Pendlebury’s powerplay, suggesting the star midfielder has previously been the highest paid player in Collingwood’s history.

“It was a ridiculous thing to say,” Cornes said on Nine’s Footy Classified.

“The club is on its knees, they’ve finished 17th, they’ve had the highest turnover of players, their salary cap has been smashed and he’s advancing and taking them publicly for other clubs to offer him deals.

“Now I’m not sure if he’s bargaining for more money, but what I will say is he’s been the highest-paid player in the history of that club. No player has been looked after better than Scott Pendlebury.

“Yes, his performances have been excellent [over his career], but he’s not worthy of a contract of $800,000 [a year anymore]. He’s 33, his performance is clearly on the decline.

“And it was a pretty ordinary thing to say when the club’s in the situation they’re in.”

Collingwood has offered Pendlebury a one-year contract but he would prefer at least a two-year deal with an option to pursue coaching later down the line.

“We’re trying to work through something at the moment,” Pendlebury told Triple M on Sunday. “There’s an offer on the table, which came last week.

“If I sign with Collingwood, at this stage it’s a one-year deal (for 2022).

“I’ve been talking to our football club for about a week now and I think something will get done reasonably soon.”

While insisting he “really wants to be a one-club player”, Pendlebury said he has ambitions to become a coach but would ideally like to do his coaching apprenticeship at a club other than Collingwood.

“We’re trying to work through the best thing for both parties,” he said. “When you get to this age you are slightly lower on the priority list than the young guys and finding a new coach.

“I do have ambitions to coach, I’ve said that, and I think I’ve said I’d like to step away from our football club (Collingwood) and just get some experience elsewhere because ever since I was 17 all I’ve known is this football club.

“But I’ve been on record saying I really do want to be a one-club player.

“Hopefully we nut something out soon ... but if they want to offer me future coaching gigs for a couple of years’ time, I’ll have a look at it.”

Pendlebury hasn’t played since he suffered a hairline fracture in his leg in round 19 against Port Adelaide and will likely miss a chunk of next season as well.