LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Former Arkansas basketball coach Nolan Richardson faced a Friday deadline to ask system President Alan Sugg to review the termination of his contract.

Maybe.

Arkansas said last Friday that it would buy out the last six years of Richardson's contract at $500,000 per year. The decision ended Richardson's 17-year run at the school.

Richardson said he wanted to remain as coach, but the school exercised a no-excuses-needed clause in his contract and said it would replace him. Richardson plans to appeal, but lawyers for him and the university can't agree on whether there is a deadline.

The "Termination at Convenience of the University" clause that the school cited in buying out Richardson does not give a specific deadline, saying only: "at the written request of Coach, any termination hereunder will be reviewed by the President whose decision shall be final."

Another section of the contract says, however, that "time is of the essence in all respects concerning this agreement."

University lawyer Fred Harrison said in a letter to Richardson attorney John Walker that, to help Sugg review the case, he should have evidence to the president by the close of business Friday.

Walker said the school hasn't given Richardson satisfactory answers about why the contract was bought out and that he would file an appeal when he is ready.

University spokeswoman Rebecca Wood said there were no developments Thursday on an appeal or other information changing hands among Richardson, the university and their lawyers.

Richardson was one year into a seven-year, $1.03 million a year contract. He said Feb. 23 and again Feb. 25 that, if the administration wanted to, it could pay him under the terms of his contract and he would leave.

He said Feb. 28 he wanted to remain as coach.

Fayetteville campus Chancellor John White initially said he believed Richardson was only venting, but, according to Harrison's letters to Walker, later believed Richardson was hurting the program.

An appeal to Sugg is seen as a prerequisite for possible legal action by Richardson against the university.

Under the contract, Richardson's accepting the buyout would "release and discharge the university, its officers, trustees and employees from and against any liability of any nature whatsoever" related to the agreement and its termination.