Robbie Savage has confirmed that Forest Green captain Laurent Mendy will remain at the club after Hearts’ bid fell short of Rovers’ valuation.
Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts were keen to bring Mendy to Tynecastle, but Forest Green’s hierarchy, including Savage, sporting director Mark Bowen, vice-chairman Asif Rehmanwala, and owner Dale Vince, turned down the offer from Derek McInnes’ side.
Savage said: “I spoke to Derek McInness yesterday. Hearts did not meet the valuation of the club. That decision was made collectively by myself, Mark, Asif, and Dale. We all make decisions together. If the club doesn’t feel the money offered in stages is enough for our captain and one of the best players in the National League, then we won’t sell.”
Savage admitted he will use his own experience of moves not working out to help Mendy refocus: “My relationship with Mendy, everybody knows, and all the lads know how close I am to my captain, and that’s why he’s captain of the football club, because of my relationship with him.
“I’m sure the lure of Hearts, with everything that comes with it, would have really tempted him. And I understand the situation. I’m not saying he wanted to go, but I’m saying that I’m sure I understand. He’s 29 years of age. An opportunity was given to him to go, but inevitably, every player’s evaluation, and, you know, I know the club went back to Hearts and negotiated, but the valuation wasn’t met.
“I’m sure if Mendy wanted to go, he’d be disappointed, as I was when I had a chance to go to a few clubs from Crewe. It didn’t happen. I put my head down, I performed, and then went to Leicester later on.
“So again, I understand it. And the benefit of me being in my position is, I’ve experienced probably everything in football, from being at one of the biggest clubs in the world, playing the best youth team that’s ever been, to getting released, being told I wasn’t good enough, to fight my way back, to play in the lower leagues, to get a move, to then get several moves, to captain four Premier League sides, to play in international football, to then get left out of international football, to then retire, and then to be training with thehe youth team going out on loan and then coming back to captain that side. So I’ve seen everything and I can go back to my experiences and try and help educate and help players in that sense.”
Always his biggest fan, Savage admits Mendy’s momentum remains upwards: “I’ve said it numerous times that when I was at Macclesfield, I can’t understand why he didn’t go elsewhere. If I went from Macclesfield to a League 1 or Championship club, I would have taken Mendy with me. That’s how much I rate him. So again, it’s a surprise, but there’s no surprise now, the interest shown in him.”
Savage dismissed social media claims that he blocked a potential move for Mendy because Hearts were due to face Celtic this weekend, managed by his former Leicester City boss Martin O’Neill.
“I see a few people online saying, ‘oh, I’ve blocked the move because it was Martin O’Neill’ – It’s absolute nonsense, you know, what you see online. So I don’t even know why I’m online is these days because it’s getting ridiculous. Mendy is such a good player and I’m sure, I’m sure in the summer there’ll be lots of interest in my captain because he’s a brilliant player.”
