I'd have serious concerns about him crossing the road by himself. I doubt even his harshest critic on here would imagine for one second he or his agent were oblivious to his contract situation.
The board left themselves wide open to criticism/ridicule on this and they deserve it. But when they did issue the statement and folk immediately began foaming online about Kettlewell getting a year's extension last night, you have to wonder if those fans are actually interested in anything other than moaning.