UCD boss Collie O'Neill has criticised Bristol Rovers handling of the Liam Scales transfer saga.
The Gas are leading the chase for the young defender, having first been linked with him at the end of last month before interest from Portsmouth and Fleetwood Town threatened to scupper any deal to bring him to the Mem.
Yet the move has dragged on, with ExtraTime.ie reporting that neither Scales nor UCD have had any clarification on where the deal lies following the player's trip to Rovers to discuss terms on July 4.
UCD had shielded the player from action in order to avoid injury scuppering a transfer, but O'Neill lost patience following a 7-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers on July 21 and restored Scales to the side last Friday night for his first game since July 1.
O'Neill says that Rovers have not been fair on the player over the radio silence, but still expects the deal to go through.
He said: "It’s a case where we were being good by not playing Liam in case it ruined him.
"It just got to the stage where it was dragging on a little long and we just said he might as well come back and play until a deal is done.
"It’s not [fair on him]. He doesn’t know whether he’s coming or going, or what’s happening with it. Absolutely [he’s as confused as we are].
"I still think it will get done in this summer window. I think Liam’s looking forward to it being done so I hope it is."
