STUART Pearce says he will seek answers over why two of Nottingham Forest's players were sold behind his back.
But the Reds boss says he will not walk away from the challenge of managing the club.
Straight talking Pearce could not hide his disappointment after seeing Jamaal Lascelles and Karl Darlow sold to Premier League Newcastle for £7m after he had told the club hierarchy they should not do the deal.
The Forest legend only found out the move was happening when Lascelles informed him he was travelling to Newcastle for a medical.
But, while he pledged to demand answers from owner and chairman Fawaz Al Hasawi, Pearce insists he is as committed as ever to the club.
"This can be overcome," he said. "But I am not prepared to fluff things when it comes to what was said and done behind the scenes. Two players were sold against my will.
"I am not prepared to walk away from this club, because I love the club too much and I love the fans.
"On top of that, I am enjoying working with the players and staff, a lot of whom we have brought in. I owe a loyalty to those people. So that (walking away) has never crossed my mind."
Pearce said he could only be honest about the situation, which saw the deal – which will see the duo return to the City Ground on loan for the season – agreed without his consent.
"If I get asked an honest question, I will give you an honest answer," he said. "It disappointed me. I would be lying if I said it didn't.
"I have to dust myself down and say 'right, okay, I know where I stand'.
"We have to improve our business sense and our relations. It is as simple as that. If it was my money, the boys would not have been sold.
"When it is out of my hands, there is not a lot I can do about it. All I can do is make a recommendation to people.
"I thought I could push their value up and that they would be worth more in the long run.
"The first I heard about things was when Jamaal told me that he had a medical at Newcastle. I would like to think that, somewhere down the line, they would back my knowledge, with respect of the amount of time I have been in the game.
"I don't know the financial constraints the club are working under. I plan to find that out, very soon. Then perhaps I can understand this decision.
"I don't want people looking at me, after I had been quoted as saying 'I don't want to sell our best young players'. I stand by that statement."
