Paul Heckingbottom admits it is 'horrible' to lose Sam Winnall to local rivals Sheffield Wednesday but has told Reds fans and players not to 'sulk' about it.

The 11-goal striker joined Wednesday this week after two and a half seasons with the Reds. 

Heckingbottom said: "It's disappointing to lose any player. I have said all along I want the best possible team here with the best possible players, and Sam was one of them.

"I had a good relationship with Sam and I would like to think we made him better. But if he is gone, he is gone and I am going to focus on the players who are here.

"It happens at the biggest clubs. Certain clubs can pay more than us or are perceived as bigger than us. That happens to clubs in the Premier League as well.

"My message to fans and everyone at the club would be: 'don't sulk about it, just get on with it.'"

The Reds boss said it was not ideal that the move was just down the road to Barnsley's bitter local rivals. He said: "Sam is not from Barnsley or from Sheffield so it doesn't come into his thinking one little bit. He's a professional footballer who will be making decisions that are best for his career.

"It's horrible that he has gone to local rival. As soon as the news started to come out, I was getting loads of messages on my phone. When I was driving to Rimmo's (Norman Rimmington) funeral, my little girl rang me. She said: 'Dad, have you sold Sam Winnall?'

"I live in Barnsley and I know how much it means to everyone. I can't go anywhere without talking about the football club."

A figure of £500,000 has been reported for the Winnall transfer, but Heckingbottom says that will increase based on how many games and goals he gets for Wednesday and added that the Reds decided to take that money now rather than risk losing him for free in the summer when he is out of contract.

"I know it's a figure which can rise a hell of a lot in terms of games and performances. The club are in a position where they have got players out of contract. It will always be a case of trying to get the best possible deal for Barnsley.

"From a footballing point of view, it's not good. But there's a business side of things to weigh into it as well. Decisions will be made that benefit the club in the long term. Patrick (Cryne, owner) has said that he would love the club to be self-sustainable and then give it to the fans."

Hourihane has been linked with a move to Hillsborough, with Aston Villa also rumoured to be tabling a bid for Barnsley's star midfielder. Heckingbottom said: "The first I have heard of Conor and Wednesday was this morning. They would be one of dozens, I would have thought. He has been playing that well.

"There are lots of enquires about Conor, through official channels from clubs and through agents. I would have thought that would continue for a long time.

"He knows he could wait until the summer and get a good deal somewhere else and we have got a couple of players in that position. While they are looking after their careers, I will be focusing on the club and the players we have got here and trying to win the games.

"If it gets to the stage where the club were thinking about moving a player on, it would have to be a good bid that the club are happy with.  As a fan, I would be saying we should keep all the players until the summer. But you need to remember that the players are in good positions and, if they don't think they can get the money they want at Barnsley, they will look elsewhere. The football club is not going to be held to ransom.

"If players have six months left on their contracts, they are going to go - whether it is today, tomorrow or in the summer. We have to replace them. It will be difficult to replace whoever goes. But what I am pushing for is the replacements."