Barnsley manager David Flitcroft has suggested that Scott Golbourne's imminent move to League One Wolverhampton Wanderers was motivated by money and the left-back's 'heart and head haven't been in it' since the initial bid came in two weeks ago.
The 25-year-old has signed a three-year deal Midlands club – with a significant wage increase – for an undisclosed fee after the two clubs agreed a deal and he underwent a medical.
Golbourne has been one of the Reds' best players since he signed from Exeter City in January last year but Flitcroft says he has been off-form since he heard of Wolves' interest.
The Reds boss thinks Golbourne may have been 'got at' by Wolves and that it was the right decision by the Reds to let him go because they have got a good deal and the player would have been 'bitter' if forced to stay.
Flitcroft said: "I wouldn't have dropped to League One if I was Scott. I was never motivated by money. He's played a lot in League Two and League One. I think the Championship is incredible but for whatever reason Scott has decided he does want to move.
"His heart was somewhere else so we have done the right thing to let him go. We've known of the bid for two weeks. We alerted Scott and he said he didn't want to play League One football. But whether he's been got at I don't know but Scott decided that he wanted to leave the football club.
"Until you leave you should make sure you are professional to the end but the possible move clearly had an effect on Scott. "It doesn't matter how much you want to keep a player. If his heart and head aren't in it then you can't keep him.
"Scott's heart and head haven't been in it for us during the last couple of weeks but before that he was one of the most professional players I have worked with.
"He goes with our blessing. "I just wish he had produced the football he is capable of in the last two games. I told the board that Scott's not where we need him from a football perspective.
"We've been renumerated to the levels that are acceptable to all parties. It has always been part of the plan to bring players in and sell them on. If we had made Scott stay he would have regretted it. There would have been an anger. I don't see the point in that."
