Coventry City manager Micky Adams and chairman Geoffrey Robinson this week unveiled a three-year plan to bring Premiership football back to Coventry - a strategy that apparently does not include selling their leading scorer.
Adams yesterday rebuffed overtures from Norwich City for the services of striker Gary McSheffrey (right) after the Canaries' boss Nigel Worthington declared his interest.
The former Northern Ireland international admitted: "Gary McSheffrey is a player that we like and one that we have made a phone call about," but Adams told his Carrow Road counterpart he has no intention of parting with the 23-year-old.
With ten goals to McSheffrey's name already this season, Adams is making it abundantly clear that the Sky Blues Academy product is very much part of the club's long-term thinking.
"We've got big plans for the future," said Adams in reference to their medium-term strategy.
"This club is hoping to get back into the Premiership, but we're not going to be able to do that if we start selling our best players. And certainly, as far as I'm concerned, Gary is not for sale."
Whether, given Coventry's massive debts, Robinson would reject all offers is a moot point. Earlier this season Adams slapped a £3 million price on McSheffrey when Sheffield Wednesday were rumoured to be interested.
As ever, the picture could change completely if anyone arrives with the sort of "crazy money" offer Worthington demanded for the services of his leading scorer, Dean Ashton, last weekend.
Meanwhile Adams has described the injury that will keep teenage midfielder Isaac Osbourne out of the rest of the season as a 'massive blow'.
The 17-year-old sustained the serious knee injury, ruptured lateral ligaments, in the home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Adams expressed his sympathy.
"He has been outstanding every time he has played in the last six or seven games," the manager said. "His contribution to the team cannot be underestimated.
"He has shown enthusiasm, desire and a fair bit of skill at times, so it is a massive blow for the football club but more importantly to himself."
However, Adams predicted a happy outcome. "He is young enough to recover with modern day surgery. He is obviously upset but he is a youngster, it's not as if he has picked it up towards the end of his career where it finishes you.
"Isaac recovers well from injuries and you tend to find with him that he comes back stronger and if that is the case then he will come back some player."
