Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood admits he has no idea if boss Arsene Wenger will agree to extend his stay at the club beyond next season.
Thierry Henry claimed uncertainty over Wenger's future played a part in his £16m move to Barcelona.
Hill-Wood dismissed that as "an excuse" but revealed he is still in the dark about whether Wenger will stay.
He said: "I've no reason to think that he won't - but at the same time I have no reason to believe he will say yes."
"We would like to see Arsene sign a new contract - we have made no secret about that"
Hill-Wood was reacting to Henry's claims that the departure of vice-chairman David Dein, and the fact that Wenger only has one season left on his current contract and had not committed himself further to Arsenal, were factors in his decision to leave.
He said: "I am not particularly worried about what Thierry said but whether it really influenced his decision or not we will have to wait and see.
"We certainly don't think Thierry Henry going and Arsene Wenger's contract situation are in any way linked. That was just an excuse."
Wenger continues to be linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium, but Hill-Wood hopes the French coach will remain in north London.
He said: "I am really hopeful he will extend but at this moment I am only in a position of hoping.
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"I've no reason to think that he won't but at the same time I have no reason to believe he will say yes. Certainly we would like to see him sign a new contract - we have made no secret about that.
"But we have not talked any details about anything with him or the board. We will wait and see what he wants to do. Then we can sit down and discuss things if he is positive about it. I am very relaxed. We are in good shape."
Hill-Wood, who also said Arsenal "would like to find another player or two" in the transfer market, revealed he has not met with American tycoon Stan Kroenke since their meeting in New York recently.
Kroenke has a 12.19% stake in the club and is expected to mount a full takeover bid but that prospect is another area of uncertainty.
"I have not heard anything further from him since we met," said Hill-Wood.
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