SWINDON Town chairman Jeremy Wray has admitted that the Robins got their way after being ordered to pay Shrewsbury £140,000 for the services of James Collins by a tribunal panel.

The up-front free, which could increase to as much as £220,000 based on appearances, was decided by the Professional Football Compensation Committee and is understood to be considerably lower than Shrewsbury’s initial asking price for the striker.

The Shrews are believed to have wanted more than double that for the Republic of Ireland Under 21 international, who turned down the offer of a new contract in Shropshire to move to the County Ground in June.

Wray told the Advertiser that the difference in valuation between the two teams was always likely to cause one club upset come decision day.

He said: “I feel it was inevitable, as there was such a disparity with regards to James Collins, that one party was always likely to feel more aggrieved and probably that party is Shrewsbury.

“It’s not about winning, but we are pleased with the outcome.

“We had a fair hearing. They took note of all the points we raised.”

Shrewsbury expressed their disappointment with the decision, issuing a statement which branded the initial £140,000 fee for Collins as a “derisory recompense”. The Shropshire club revealed that they would only receive £105,000, with Aston Villa due 25 per cent of the sale as part of the arrangement that took Collins to the Shrews.

The statement read: “It is the belief of Shrewsbury Town Football Club that the level of compensation awarded for such a highly valued player undermines the position a club which operates within a prudent financial budget and instead rewards clubs who approach players with highly attractive contracts that can be afforded as they are not having to pay an appropriate fee to the parent club.”

The PFCC also announced yesterday that Swindon owe Exeter an initial £200,000 for Troy Archibald-Henville, who rejected the chance to stay with the Grecians to make the switch to Wiltshire over the summer.

Like Collins, the defender’s add-ons include incremental payments of £20,000 after 15, 30, 45 and 60 appearances for the Robins as well as a 20 per cent sell-on clause.

However, Town will also have to fork out £40,000 should the former Tottenham trainee help Swindon into the Championship and £100,000 if the Robins make it to the Premier League with the centre-back on their payroll.

Wray would be more than happy to pay that final instalment, if that particular moment arrives.

“That’s very much the add-on that we want to end up paying,” he said. “I would like to think Exeter would feel (happy with the decision). They have been very professional in their communications with us the whole way through.

“It was my first experience of one of these things and it was a very thorough process. I was impressed with the depth of their knowledge and understanding in coming up with these numbers.”