CLAYTON Donaldson's agent, Andy Sprott, says suggestions he deliberately found the player a deal in Scotland so York City would not receive any compensation were "not the case".

Speaking to The Press, Sprott insisted that by brokering Donaldson's pre-contract agreement with Hibernian, all he had done was to secure the "best deal I could for the player I represented".

And while he said he expected Donaldson to give his all for the Minstermen before leaving for Scotland in the summer, he added there could be "no doubt this is a very good deal for my client on every level".

Sprott was commenting after City managing director Jason McGill questioned why Donaldson had been introduced to a Scottish club where, under FIFA rules, City would receive nothing in transfer fees.

But Sprott said: "Much has been made about what York City have done for Clayton and I would not disagree with that. At the same time, perhaps people should reflect on what Clayton has achieved for his club already and what he hopes to go on to achieve for York City this season.

"He has said in the plainest terms that he is determined to do the very best he can while he remains a York City player - and from such a genuine lad as Clayton I would expect nothing less.

"I have represented him with the same care and professionalism. Over that time I have maintained a good dialogue with Jason McGill who, as I have said before, I believe is a decent man who did everything he could to secure Clayton's future for York City."

Sprott added that it was Hibernian who first contacted him, earlier this month, about Donaldson's availability.

"Hibernian notified York City that they would approach us. Clayton and I went to have a look around Edinburgh and to meet John Collins and his chairman, Rod Petrie, for the first time last week," he said.

"Despite all the talk of major bids from English clubs for Clayton these were all rejected by York City. There is a suggestion from the club that I have deliberately targeted a move to the SPL to avoid any compensation fee. This is not the case and, for the record, the first contact between myself and Hibernian Football Club in relation to Clayton Donaldson was at that club's instigation during January despite the fact that the club's interest had been rumoured some months earlier.

"I did not write FIFA's transfer regulations and this is an issue between the two clubs. As the FA will confirm, it wasn't until about two weeks ago that I sought confirmation on their interpretation of the regulations, after Hibernian had approached us.

"Irrespective of whether a fee was payable to York City or not, the only club other than York that we could have talked to was Hibernian and only then with a view to a summer move.

"Clayton knows how football works. If things hadn't worked out for him at York no doubt he would have been released as surplus to requirements, just as he was by Hull City, and nobody would have questioned the club's loyalty towards him as a player then.

"As it was, we had the opportunity to sign a pre-contract agreement for Clayton to play for a great club and secure his financial future now while he was in demand.

"There can be no doubt this is a very good deal for my client on every level.

"I genuinely hope the decision that York City took in resisting those bids pays off and that Clayton can help the rest of his team achieve League football again for the club."