Mansfield slam 'illegal approach' from Sunderland

The manager of Mansfield Town FC has said how the club intends to take Sunderland to arbitration for what they say was an illegal approach for their player Liam Lawrence, who recently signed for us.

Keith Curle said today "Sunderland phoned the chairman whilst he was on holiday making an offer which was verbally declined, and the chairman was unable to decline in writing - but they approached Liam and his representatives anyway without the first obtaining the courteous permission of this football club, making him a good offer which he accepted.

"I am pretty confident that when this case goes to arbitration Mansfield will be suitably reimbursed. I have an idea of how much we should be looking at and that the funds will be made available to bring in other players."

Curle said that the Stags had made Lawrence a "fantastic" three year deal which the player refused, knowing that there was interest from clubs higher up in the league. He said that Cardiff City, Crewe Alexandra and Barnsley were all given permission to speak to the player, and that Leeds had made a written offer for Lawrence of £200,000 which Curle had provisionally accepted.

SAFC have not yet commented on the matter.