Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has conceded that he doesn't know what the future holds for out-of-contract defender Kolo Toure and has hinted at the possibility that the Ivorian defender may hang up his boots.
Rodgers recruited Toure from Liverpool on a free transfer last summer, with the Northern Irish coach having worked with the West African centre-back during their shared time together at Anfield.
When asked about the former Arsenal man's future, Rodgers appeared to confirm that Toure wouldn't be offered a new playing deal with the Glasgow giants, but that he could have a coaching role with the Buoys should he hang up his boots.
"It's a tough one," Rodgers told journalists, as reported by The Scottish Sun. "Kolo is still in that mindset where he is asking: 'Do I want to play?'
"He's now 35," the former Liverpool boss continued. "He was fantastic for us last year, but his contract has run out. But he is someone I would like to have a role for.
"Obviously, the playing role diminishes for him. He just needs time to see where he's at, in terms of playing, or whether he falls into the coaching role more."
The 36-year-old only managed nine league appearances and one further outing in the Scottish Cup last season as the Hoops romped to an invincible treble, while he also featured a further three times in the Champions League.
"It's something that he and I have spoken about over the course of the season," Rodgers added. "I think that sometimes what happens is that players who have been at that level, and have that experience, they sometimes just get pushed to the side a little bit, but guys like that are very, very important, not just for changing rooms, but for clubs."
As an experienced campaigner in Herve Renard's African Cup of Nations-winning Ivory Coast squad in 2015, Toure played a critical role in between Eric Bailly and Wilfred Kanon in the Elephants' three-man midfield, guiding the two youngsters through their first international tournament.
He offered similar value to Rodgers during his maiden campaign in Scotland, albeit from the sidelines, where players such as Dedryck Boyata have acknowledged the defender's impact.
"Players like that retain the values of a club and they understand the levels expected and the pressures," Rodgers continued, "and they can help in that perspective.
"It helps you as a coach or a manager, because you cannot be in the players' pockets 24 hours a day. So these are guys that can be great lieutenants for you, and help install your standards and the values, such as giving young players a little reminder about things when you're not there.
"A player with a profile and a status can do that for you. That's why I think it's so important that big clubs have guys who can do that."
As well as his Afcon success in 2015, Toure won the Premier League with both Arsenal and Manchester City, while he also lifted the FA Cup twice during his time with the Gunners.
"That was a part of the role that I brought him in to do," Rodgers continued. "I knew [Kolo] could come in and help us get into the [Champions League], and I knew that to bring that stability within that defensive partnership, then he maybe could not play a lot of games, but he could be a real positive influence. I like to have those sorts of players around me.
"It's tough if you are not playing," he continued, "but I don't need any players going about with their heads on the floor -- when that happens you're not going to get anywhere really as a group.
"I think people needed to see, in all the celebrations, that he was right in the middle of it. This was a guy who hadn't played so much.
"So it is important to have good people. In the environment, you need to have the right type in there, and Kolo is definitely that."
As well as Boyata, Rodgers can also call upon Jozo Simunovic, Erik Sviatchenko and Kristoffer Ajer as options in the heart of the defence next season.