LIVID Cherries chief Eddie Mitchell has come out fighting after reluctantly agreeing to sell midfielder Marvin Bartley to Burnley.

Mitchell has fired a broadside at the Championship outfit and former Cherries boss Eddie Howe over their pursuit of Bartley.

And the furious Dean Court chairman has also slammed Bartley and his representatives for their handling of the move.

Mitchell also claims Bartley made it clear he was desperate to leave and suggested the 24-year-old had hinted he would find it difficult to play for Cherries if the move had been turned down.

Mitchell was also heavily critical of Howe for the timing of the offer, particularly as he would have been well aware of the impact Bartley’s departure would have had on Cherries.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo, Mitchell said last night: “We are disappointed the player seems to have played such a big part in the negotiations. I’ve had three people on the telephone all claiming to be his agent. The Burnley chairman offered something and then changed his mind.

“It has been very disappointing the way people have conducted themselves. Coming in at such a late stage for a player who had a game tomorrow was below the belt. If he knew he was interested in him then he should have made enquiries earlier.

“I am disappointed, especially considering how close to the club the people who orchestrated it were. They know the situation and they know what a valuable member of the team he is. They also know how disruptive it can be having someone at the club who doesn’t want to be there just because they can see pound notes in their eyes.

“It didn’t come through the correct channels either and the person I believe to be his agent had to hear it from me first. That’s not how I like to do business.”

Accusing Bartley of digging in his heels, Mitchell said: “When you’ve got a player who says he doesn’t know whether he could come back from this to play for us again, there isn’t very much you can do.

“It has really been the player’s decision, not mine. I am not going to make people stay against their wishes and run the risk of disrupting the rest of the squad. I had to do what I thought was best for the club under the circumstances. Whether I get pilloried for it, that is the situation.”

Mitchell, who declined to reveal details of the instalment-based fee, is understood to have rejected Burnley’s initial offer of around £300,000. It was tabled just before 6pm last night – five hours before the transfer window closed.

His decision to sell came just days after he had insisted the squad would be kept intact and only hours after the board had met with manager Lee Bradbury to discuss a new contract for Bartley.

Mitchell added: “The fee was acceptable to us but it was something I didn’t want to enter in to, otherwise I wouldn’t have made the statement two days ago.

“We had spoken about giving Marvin a pay increase of more than 30 per cent to bring him in line with other players who have performed well, players he was on a par with. We were convinced he was going to stay.

“Burnley made their first offer between 5.30 and 5.45. What a time to come in. That bid was rejected, as was an improved one. They came back with another one and then changed their minds and reduced it. We negotiated somewhere between the two.

“I have done the best for the club and that’s what I’m here to do. Rightly or wrongly, somebody had to make a decision. Under the circumstances, I have done my best for the club.”

The Echo was unable to contact Bartley last night, while Howe declined to comment at this stage.

Meanwhile, the Echo has also spoken to two agents claiming to act for Bartley, neither of whom were aware of his proposed move to Burnley.

The deal was subject to the relevant paperwork meeting last night’s 11pm transfer deadline, with no official confirmation available as the Echo went to press.

• Cherries yesterday completed the signing of Mathieu Baudry and Ben Williamson.