I said it at the time and I will say it again now

He would have stayed and played mate, I'm sure. How many players have you ever known go on strike, van hoyidonk at forest and tevez, who could both afford it. He wouldnt have damaged his reputation for the sake. Of 5 months of playing in the championship.

What is even more mind boggling as andy says is the lack of a promotion clause. Mental. Amateurish. Naive.

If he did say he wouldn't have played and I was in charge I would have laughed my **** off and told him that negotiations would be at an end there and that if 'big Sam' really rated him, he would stump up the cash in full.

Are we really saying that his agent gave us a ridiculous ultimatum and we just capitulated? I think we are, which is totally amateurish and will ultimately send us down along with the lack of foresight with butterfields contract.