Hearts have fired back at "extremely disingenuous" comments after Blackpool boss Mick McCarthy was quizzed on interest in Toby Sibbick.
A transfer bid was thought to have been submitted to Hearts over the player.
But McCarthy today is quoted as saying "I’m not quite sure they (Hearts) are being honest" in response to questions on a move for Sibbick.
Now, a Hearts statement insists "we will not sit back and let the good name of Heart of Midlothian be besmirched".
The club correspondence confirms a bid was received from Blackpool on Monday at 8.33pm and was quickly dismissed.
The statement goes on to reveal that Blackpool chiefs have been informed Sibbick is not for sale.
The Hearts statement read: "The club wishes to put an end to speculation surrounding the future of Toby Sibbick.
"Contrary to comments attributed to Blackpool manager Mick McCarthy earlier today, we can confirm that Blackpool submitted one bid for Toby on Monday, at 8.33pm, which was dismissed out of hand.
"Subsequently, Blackpool have been told that Toby, a much-valued part of our team, is not for sale.
"For anyone to suggest that we have been not “honest” about the situation is, in itself, extremely disingenuous.
"The club would prefer to conduct all transfer matters in private, but we will not sit back and let the good name of Heart of Midlothian be besmirched."
Asked about a transfer swoop for Sibbick, Blackpool boss McCarthy is quoted as saying: “We’ve been looking around at players and interested in players, but I wouldn’t discuss transfers unless someone comes into the building, and then I’d say you’d know by then.
“I’m not quite sure they (Hearts) are being honest. Are they just trying to trigger somebody else to come in and offer more? I don’t get that. Sometimes people say somebody has bid hoping they can get a bigger bid.
“They say somebody has made a bid, so it looks great to the club, the crowd and the fans that they’re keeping him. Whether we’ve bid or not is for Chris (Badlan) and Ben (Mansford) to tell you.
“Marvin is not going to be back anytime soon. Charlie has made a good impression and we’ll continue to look and see if we can get somebody else in to help us.”
