Hans bid rejected (From This Is Wiltshire)

PETERBOROUGH co-owner Julie Mahoney has revealed the Panthers have rejected Swindon Robins’ initial offer to buy Hans Andersen.

The two clubs have been at loggerheads over the winter regarding the futures of both Andersen and Troy Batchelor, with the Robins keen to bring the pair back to Blunsdon for the defence of their Elite League title.

Peterborough have also suggested they were keen to use the riders, and claim Andersen has snubbed two offers to return to the East of England Showground and also rejected a move to Coventry.

The Robins have since made an offer to buy the Dane, but the Panthers have rejected it saying the offer falls ‘quite a way short’ of being acceptable.

Mahoney told the Peterborough Telegraph: “We asked him (Andersen) for his demands to ride for Peterborough in 2013 and were unable to meet them.

“We have subsequently put two offers to Hans, both of which he has chosen to decline.

“Coventry were prepared to buy Hans on a full transfer if they were able to tempt him to ride for them in 2013, but Hans also turned that move down.

“Swindon have indicated that they are willing to take Hans on a full transfer but we have declined their initial offer as it falls quite a way short of what we believe is a fair valuation.”

In the case of Batchelor, Mahoney claims the BSPA have ruled he must be bought rather than signed on loan by the Robins if he is to return next season.

“The BSPA Management Committee have also ruled that Troy Batchelor must leave on a full transfer in consideration of public statements he has made over his desire to not return to Peterborough,” Mahoney told the Telegraph.

“We are happy with this decision as we believe we were unfairly forced into buying Troy on a full transfer when we signed him in the winter of 2009.

“Therefore it is only right that any club who wishes to use him should also buy him. Troy has now been ruled out of our plans and we will wait and see how the situation develops.”