Wolves: Bakary Sako is not on strike

A story in a tabloid yesterday suggested the French winger is to down tools to engineer his transfer to the City Ground.

Wolves have ended all talks with the Championship club after Forest refused to pay a loan fee and agree to the terms of the proposed transfer, and insist the story is untrue.

Sako rang in sick on Thursday and missed Saturday's 3-0 win at Colchester but is expected to be re-integrated back into the fold soon.

Chief executive Jez Moxey said: "To suggest he is going on strike is untrue.

"He has been professional throughout this and as good as gold and we have talked to him and his people every step of the way – everything has been completely transparent.

"While he is disappointed and we're frustrated, he remains committed to the cause and we have the utmost respect for him."

Wolves are keen for fans to rally behind Sako when he returns to action after praising his conduct and loyalty.

"We hope the fans continue to give him the backing he deserves because he has not been disloyal to them or to us," said Moxey.

Moxey intends to use his programme notes for tomorrow's Johnstone's Paint Trophy second-round tie against Notts County to address the issue further.

He added: "Bakary Sako is a fantastic person. Bakary came to us because he wanted to play in the Premier League and was sold on the idea that we had a chance of going back to the top flight.

"He didn't expect to be playing in the third tier – no one expected what happened – so you can understand that when we receive an approach in the way we did from Nottingham Forest, he is going to be unsettled.

"It's challenging for him when he is presented with a chance to be in the Premier League next season, something we all know we can't offer him at the moment."

Head coach Kenny Jackett said: "We need to be able to play without individual players, and without Sako, we've won against Port Vale and Colchester.

"But he'll be welcome to come back in. If we want to get promoted it has to go past any one individual.

"He's an outstanding player and we'd like him to stay and play well for our club."