"Nicolas was top class for us and I thought he'd done enough to stay. He was a good lad around the dressing-room as well.
"I've always thought it was a shame he's not still with us. What made it doubly disappointing for me was I knew how desperate he was to sign on a permanent deal at the time.
"Unfortunately, these decisions are taken and it's only when you look back later you can make a judgement. I don't think anyone will deny we got that one wrong."
