PETERBOROUGH chairman Darragh MacAnthony has blasted Nottingham Forest for pulling out of a deal to sign George Boyd - allegedly because the player failed an eye test.
MacAnthony claims the player was treated 'terribly' by Forest, who pulled out of the deal just hours before transfer window slammed shut.
But the Peterborough boss also revealed that there is already another Championship club who hope to sign the 27-year-old.
"I have told him that we would be delighted to give him a new contract. But we have had a phone call from a bigger club in the Championship, who have a better chance of promotion and are run by some good people," said MacAnthony on Sky Sports.
"They want to sign him when the loan window opens - and they are not worried about his eyesight.
"Forest have been chasing George for a few weeks, their manager was very keen but they made offers that were not good enough.
"But we accepted an offer from Crystal Palace and Forest matched the deal. We gave George permission to speak to both clubs and he agreed terms with Forest.
"He went there for a medical and had been there all day. I then had a phone call from him and he was in bits. They made him do an eye test and the doctor said he had a problem with one of his eyes."
MacAnthony alleges that is the reason why Forest pulled out of the deal at the 11th hour.
"George has played 300-plus games for us and has scored a few goals from the half-way line. But he has been told that he has a problem with one of his eyes and, for that reason, the Forest owner did not want to do the deal," he said.
"The whole thing stunk, to be honest. McLeish wanted to do the deal. But they came back on and asked if they could take him on loan. It is the most ridiculous thing that has happened in my life.
"The whole thing has just been a shambles. This is the same player who passed a medical with Forest when he was there previously on loan.
"He has had this eye issue since he was a boy and it has never been a problem at any of the clubs he has been at.
"But when they came back on asking if they could have him on loan, I thought 'forget about it'. The whole thing is disgusting. George has been treated terribly. I am disappointed for the boy. I can't get my head around it."
MacAnthony claims the player was treated 'terribly' by Forest, who pulled out of the deal just hours before transfer window slammed shut.
But the Peterborough boss also revealed that there is already another Championship club who hope to sign the 27-year-old.
"I have told him that we would be delighted to give him a new contract. But we have had a phone call from a bigger club in the Championship, who have a better chance of promotion and are run by some good people," said MacAnthony on Sky Sports.
"They want to sign him when the loan window opens - and they are not worried about his eyesight.
"Forest have been chasing George for a few weeks, their manager was very keen but they made offers that were not good enough.
"But we accepted an offer from Crystal Palace and Forest matched the deal. We gave George permission to speak to both clubs and he agreed terms with Forest.
"He went there for a medical and had been there all day. I then had a phone call from him and he was in bits. They made him do an eye test and the doctor said he had a problem with one of his eyes."
MacAnthony alleges that is the reason why Forest pulled out of the deal at the 11th hour.
"George has played 300-plus games for us and has scored a few goals from the half-way line. But he has been told that he has a problem with one of his eyes and, for that reason, the Forest owner did not want to do the deal," he said.
"The whole thing stunk, to be honest. McLeish wanted to do the deal. But they came back on and asked if they could take him on loan. It is the most ridiculous thing that has happened in my life.
"The whole thing has just been a shambles. This is the same player who passed a medical with Forest when he was there previously on loan.
"He has had this eye issue since he was a boy and it has never been a problem at any of the clubs he has been at.
"But when they came back on asking if they could have him on loan, I thought 'forget about it'. The whole thing is disgusting. George has been treated terribly. I am disappointed for the boy. I can't get my head around it."
