Bristol City Football Club insist they had to cash in on Nicky Maynard.

The striker was out of contract at the end of the season, and having failed to persuade him to sign a new contract, the Robins sold him to West Ham United on deadline day for around £2.5million.

As much as the Ashton Gate club would have loved to have kept Maynard and tied him to a new deal, chairman Colin Sexstone has told the official club site it is now time to move on.

“We tried to get Nicky to sign a new contract and commit his future to the club, but once we knew that would not be possible it was in the club's best interests to search out the best deal possible,” he said.

"With the West Ham offer, I believe we have secured a good deal for the club and at the same time brought closure to this matter. It's now time to move on and pull together.”

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