Stags defend Barker sale
05 Jan 2007 - 14:39:00
Mansfield Town chief executive Keith Haslam says the club could do little to prevent leading scorer Richie Barker from joining Hartlepool United.
The 31-year-old had scored 48 goals in 107 appearances for the Stags, before opting to move on to join promotion-chasing Pools.
Haslam told the Mansfield Chad: "You don't want to lose players like Richie Barker, but at his age it was a good move for both parties.
"If he had been 28 it might have been different, no disrespect to Richie as he is a model professional.
"But at 31 years of age and the money Hartlepool were offering it was a no-brainer really.
"I believe they have offered him an excellent package which I am sure is comparable with the top level for strikers in our division."