Coventry turn down Deloumeaux

Eric Deloumeaux was available for £50,000

Coventry City are not buying Motherwell defender Eric Deloumeaux - even though the player was available for a cut-price fee.

Motherwell - currently in administration - are desperate to remove the French defender from the wage bill at Fir Park.

Coventry have let me know they are no longer interested in Eric Deloumeaux

Motherwell administrator Bryan Jackson

And they had told the Sky Blues that they could buy the French defender for £50,000 - but only if the deal was completed by Thursday.

Deloumeaux was signed for Well by Eric Black, now Gary McAllister's assistant manager at Coventry, fuelling hopes that the Midlands club would accept the offer.

However, Coventry - in the midst of financial problems themselves following the collapse of ITV Digital - decided against buying the player.

"Coventry have let me know they are no longer interested," said Motherwell administrator Bryan Jackson.

"I suspect a lack of finances is the reason they did want the player - £50,000 is not a lot but that's the market these days."

Jackson is now trying to off-load Deloumeaux elsewhere, with the player's agent currently negotiating with an un-named French club.

Motherwell have yet to make any signings since releasing 19 players at the end of last season.

Jackson insisted reports that Darren Jack had been signed from Ross County were inaccurate.

"Until Eric Deloumeaux goes we do not intend to sign anybody," he added.