Paul Heckingbottom holds no grudges with Marc McNulty, admitting the striker has joined a big club in Sunderland.
The striker joined the Black Cats last week on a season-long loan from Reading and looked bright in his first appearance from the bench against Heerenveen on Saturday, before netting a hat-trick in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Hartlepool.
Despite his disappointment at Reading last term, McNulty arrives at the Stadium of Light full of confidence after a great loan spell at Hibernian in the second half of the campaign.
And former Sunderland player Heckinbottom has admitted he tried to lure the Scotland international back to Easter Road, before graciously accepting defeat to the Black Cats.
He told Edinburgh Live: "I am disappointed but I sort of knew.
“I was never going to say we had no chance because we wanted him. He was certainly open to coming back but it was always going to be tough.
“There was constant dialogue with the agents and the players. We have always been honest with them and they have been honest with us but there was nothing we could do about it.
“There is one thing that is maybe not appreciated but, financially, there are some League Two clubs down in England who could blow us out the water. Sometimes it is crazy. But if players want to go for money reasons to other places, thats fair play to them.
"I can understand this one as well, with Sparky going to Sunderland, because of the size of the club. I would expect them to be up there challenging next year in League One and then looking longer term at Sunderland in the Championship... they are a big club.”
