FOREST GREEN have reported Cheltenham Town to the Football Association over an alleged illegal approach to winger Elliott Frear.

Rovers' owner Dale Vince has strongly refuted claims from Cheltenham Town chairman Paul Baker that his club agreed a valuation on the player.

However, Baker insisted a deal had been reached for Frear, but the League Two strugglers had reviewed their options and decided to look elsewhere.

Baker said: “We met the valuation that Forest Green put on the player, but decided not to pursue it for other reasons."

But, Vince is now calling on the FA to investigate the matter.

He said: “After a series of local media stories - we’ve asked the FA to investigate what looks like an illegal approach for one of our players by Cheltenham Town.

“The first we heard about this was when we read the claim that Cheltenham Town were 'close to signing’ Elliott Frear.

"Then we read it had fallen through at the last minute and there have been several more articles since - most recently with CTFC chairman Paul Baker stating very clearly that they were in negotiations.

"We’ve been equally clear that there was no contact between the two clubs on the issue - and we are frustrated by the continual claims to the contrary attributed to Cheltenham Town in the media.

“Cheltenham Town claim to have made an approach, to have been in detailed negotiations with the player - and they have to take the responsibility for this. They either made that up or they broke the transfer rules. We don’t know which it is. But we expect the FA will get to the bottom of it."