Rossi has not featured since taking part in pre-season training

But the Fife club say that they will only cancel the 30-year-old's registration with the Scottish Football Association once the money is in their bank account.

Dunfermline chairman John Yorkston told this website: "We have told them what we are after cash-wise and, if they pay it, and we hope that will be by Monday, they will get him.

"We paid a lot of money to bring him here and we have got some of it back."

Yorkston was being diplomatic but privately will be relieved to part company with such a troublesome player.

We are now seeing the benefit of having paid six first-team players off a couple of months ago Pars chairman John Yorkston

Rossi joined Dunfermline for �160,000 from French club Rennes in July 2000 after the central defender had spent a successful season on loan with Dutch outfit NEC Nijmegen.

But, after initially showing his internationally class, he went on to make only 25 first-team appearances.

Rossi appeared to become unsettled after newspaper speculation suggested Italian club Udinese were preparing a �1m bid.

He went for a trial with Southampton without permission from Dunfermline at the end of his first season with the Fife club.

Rossi reluctantly returned to Dunfermline but was dropped in February 2002 after being heavily criticised for some lacklustre displays.

He again went AWOL in April and returned to his homeland to train with former club Raja.

Dunfermline were successful in January in obtaining a ban, from world governing body Fifa, on Rossi playing for anyone else.

The player was given another chance to prove himself at Dunfermline when he returned for pre-season training in June, but he has failed to make a first-team appearance this season.

Cash-hit Pars bounce United

Meanwhile, Yorkston confirmed that the �250,000 grant from Uefa for installing their new artificial pitch was expected to be forwarded to the SFA on Friday, with Scottish football's governing body then passing it to the club.

Yorkston blamed the delay in payment for last month's cash-flow crisis that forced Dunfermline to suspend player bonuses.

He says that the situation is now under control and that there would have been no repeat, even if the Uefa money had not arrived.

"We have had three home games this month and we are now seeing the benefit of having paid six first-team players off a couple of months ago," added Yorkston.

He insisted that there was no prospect of Dunfermline following the example of Dundee, who are considering moving into administration to clear their mounting debts.