Barnet FC have reacted strongly to a suggestion by Blackpool manager Ian Holloway that the club asked "a ridiculous amount of money" for 22-year-old Albert Adomah.

Chairman Tony Kleanthous, who earlier this season revealed that transfer talks between the Bees and the Championship club broke down two hours before the previous transfer window closed, said: "We never quoted Blackpool a price ... we merely said that we had received a written offer from one of the many interested clubs and that they would have to match that.

"If paying the market rate is a ridiculous sum of money then they should set their sights lower because they only offered half what we could have achieved elsewhere. There is no need for derogatory remarks and it's no good Blackpool pleading poverty to us, we just want to achieve the maximum compensation possible as we would have to replace him, which will not be easy.

"We have no axe to grind and have made it clear that we would not stand in Albert's way, or that of any other player in fact, if they want to leave our club, but the right offer must come in for us to consider doing business.

"If Blackpool are interested in signing him, as their manager is still saying, then we are prepared to do a deal but it's ludicrous asking us to do them a favour and lower the fee considering our position in League 2 and theirs in the Championship. The difference we are talking about here is only a little more than 6% of their TV money from the League so I'm not sure why they are making this issue".

Adomah has rejected two previous contract offers to stay at Barnet, the last in November being the largest deal ever offered to a Barnet player. Tony Finnegan, the player's representative, called it "an excellent offer", adding though:"He deserves a run at a higher level and I would love him to team up with my old friend Ian Holloway at Blackpool as he improves players and he knows how to get the best out of players".

Dennis Signy