SHREWSBURY boss Gary Peter insists Swindon Town have had a lucky escape, after revealing he would not have been happy taking their money for now Nice-bound striker Derek Asamoah.

Asamoah sealed a £50,000 move to French Division One outfit Nice yesterday but Peters has revealed a deal was lined up with Swindon, for more money, before he went AWOL.

Peters told Shrewsbury's website the pacy striker/winger went to Nice to have a trial without permission and admitted it was better for all concerned for him to stay in another country.

He said: "Derek took it upon himself to just disappear, there was no permission asked for or permission given and no knowledge of his whereabouts.

"On the Thursday we turned up for training and Derek didn't show. I got a text of him saying he was ill in bed in London. Then we never heard from him for another 10 days.

"During that time we found out that he had gone to Nice, was there on trial, played in game even though he had no clearance from the FA, football league or us.

"We didn't want to sell him to Nice and we did have a deal lined up with Swindon where we could have got more money.

"With him disappearing like this it's better for everyone all round that he goes to another country.

"I wouldn't be happy for him to go to Paul Sturrock and take money off him when I know he's behaved in this way."

While Town's Sturrock continues his search for firepower, Peters continued his tirade against his ex-striker.

He said: "Derek didn't notify his agent and he still hasn't made contact with the club.

"I spoke to the FA, Football League and the PFA and everyone was outraged by his behaviour and all agreed that he was going to be sacked when he returned. There was no way I was having him back.

"If his trial hadn't gone well at Nice he would have been without a club and without a job as we were going to hold his registration as long as we could.

"It's not what we expect but I think Shrewsbury will be a better club because of it, you will have seen that in the solid team performances that have been given against Lincoln and Colchester."