Coventry City manager Tony Mowbray has admitted that not giving Arron Martin a new contract and allowing him to leave the Sky Blues was harsh.
The City boss told the Coventry Telegraph: “I have a photofit of how I see central defenders – I want them to come in and be aggressive and, at times, go to war and be leaders and men.
“Listen, he’s a fantastic lad and I haven’t got anything negative to say about him but he just falls a bit short of the central defender that I want for this football club, to be the man who can dominate the back line.
“I haven’t got the guy to replace him yet. “I have seen improvement in him.
“I don’t give hair-dryer treatments but the criticism he has received off me after certain games he’s taken on board and tried to react to it and has reacted to it and yet if there is an opportunity now I want to trust my instinct to find someone that is more suited to my eye, that’s all.
“He’s been a model professional who has taken on board what I have said and not barked back at the criticism. He’s just worked hard on the training ground and yet I have an opportunity to try to improve the position and that’s what I will try to do.
“If I get it wrong, I get it wrong and Aaron should take great personal pride if he comes back and his team dominate and win if he comes back at this level. He should use it as a motivation for himself and I am sure he will.
“I never worry about letting players go and if they come back and do well against you that doesn’t matter. I am pleased for them but sometimes you have to back your own judgement because that’s what management is."
Picture copyright of CNS Sport. Credit CNS/SB