Notts County will not be able to call on the experience of defender Elliott Ward for their fight for survival due to a wrangle over his contract.
The Magpies defender will trigger a year’s extension if he plays one more game, but with the club in the midst of a takeover they are not keen to commit to another deal.
Ward would have had to drop the clause in order to play, but after holding discussions with Neal Ardley and the club, negotiations hit an impasse.
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Asked whether the former Nottingham Forest defender would help offset concerns about a lack of available centre-backs for the visit of Grimsby on Saturday, boss Ardley said he would not be available.
“As far as I am aware and the latest I can tell you is that it looks like he (Elliott) is not going to be available for selection,” he said.
“He has spoken to the people at the football club about the clause.
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“He won’t be available for selection so you can read into that what you like.
“There’s a million and one things you can get frustrated by and what’s happened here this season, but I can’t worry about things I cannot affect.”
