Mark Warburton said he was under no obligation to sell players as the end of the transfer window draws closer.
Brentford this week accepted a bid from Wigan Athletic for last year’s Sky Bet League One Player of the Year Adam Forshaw.
Adam’s departure comes at the end of a summer which has seen ten players, including Jota, Moses Odubajo, Andre Gray, Scott Hogan and Marcos Tébar all join The Bees.
Speaking to Bees Player ahead of this weekend’s trip to Rotherham United Mark made it clear that Brentford were under no pressure to sell Adam ahead of the end of the transfer window.
Even with Adam’s departure Mark is very pleased with the shape his squad is in as the window draws to a close.
“I am mystified to be honest because as far as I am aware Adam left us on Monday and bid us farewell,” said Mark.
“He said he was going to Wigan Athletic for a medical so I am a little bit bemused as to why he hasn’t signed.
“I am sure that Lisa Hall and Frank McParland will be on the case for that one and we will know more in the next 24 hours or so.
“Adam was a good player and we didn’t have to sell Adam.
“We were thankful for that and the owners support has been fantastic.
“We didn’t have to sell Adam so it was never a case of us selling him then going out to target players.
“We have done our business and there may be one or two more, we will have to see what Frank has up his sleeve, but it wasn’t reliant on Adam leaving.
“The squad is strong and you have to carry that bigger squad.
“The demands of the Championship are harder again and the games come thick and fast so you need to have that quality cover.
“You can’t afford to go into games with makeshift defenders and makeshift attackers.
“The demands are higher and the players have to have pitch time.
“We have a bigger squad and we have cover in positions so hopefully we are not too far away.”
That bigger squad has been put to the test in the last few weeks as The Bees have played Saturday Tuesday every week of the season so far.
Their last outing saw them lose 1-0 at home to near neighbours Fulham in the Second Round of the Capital One Cup on Tuesday.
Mark Warburton made six changes for the game giving with Jon Toral making his first start of the season and Harlee Dean, Moses Odubajo, Stuart Dallas, Marcos Tébar and Nick Proschwitz also started.
With games coming thick and fast Mark said it was vital to freshen the team up to avoid picking up injuries but also to give members of his squad much needed pitch time.
“Alan McCormack had a groin issue and a couple of the guys had some irritating problems that we had to look at,” said Mark.
“It is a very long season and we don’t want to lose a player for three or four weeks.
“It was about using the squad but when a £1.5 million guy comes into midfield and we have another seven figure guy at right-back that’s not a bad team.
“I have been accused of playing a weak team but for me it was a strong team and people got good minutes on the pitch.
“Marcos Tébar got 90 minutes, so did Tommy Smith, and it was great to see Jon Toral because he has come in and trained very well and I thought he brought lots of good parts to the game.
“Jota got 70 minutes as did Nick Proschwitz so there were many positives against a team packed with first-team players.
“We wanted to win that game and we knew the importance of that game.
“We wanted to win that game because with the larger squad that you have to carry in The Championship you want them to have those opportunities and those types of games.
“I am very disappointed to lose and there was no lack of effort from the players against what was a very strong team.”
Brentford return to league action on Saturday with a trip to Rotherham United, the scene of The Bees’ worst league defeat under Mark Warburton.
The Bees lost 3-0 at The New York Stadium following a Kieran Agard double and one from Haris Vuckic to add to their 1-0 defeat at Griffin Park earlier in the season.
The Millers currently sit a point and a place better off than The Bees after four games following their 1-0 win over Millwall last Saturday.
Mark is expecting another tough test against a side which he believes is riding on the crest of a wave following last summer’s promotion from Sky Bet League One through the play-offs.
“Rotherham United will be a very formidable test,” said Mark.
“They have got a real feel good factor about the place with the new stadium and coming back from two behind in the play-off final.
“They play a strong 4-1-4-1 and look to go direct to Alex Revell.
“They have got runners with quality like Ben Pringle and Paul Taylor and we are well aware of the test.
“There are long-throws from Kari Arnason and Steven Evans has done a magnificent job at the club.
“We need to recognise it, be prepared for it and, as always, look to impose our style of play on the game.
“Two poor performances stand out for me last season: Colchester United away, which was after promotion was secured and Rotherham United away.
“We were beaten badly and it was a deserved defeat.
“We had some good passages of play but they were deserved winners and we have to learn from that.
“We know the type of test they will pose us and we have to be prepared for it and impose our style of play on the game.
“We have to be positive, be penetrating, create chances, test the keeper and hopefully score the goals.”
After Saturday’s game The Bees have two weeks without a fixture due to the international break.
Brentford have two members of their squad who will be international action over the break with Alex Pritchard being called up by England’s Under-21s and Daniel O’Shaughnessy joining up with the Finland Under-21 squad.
Mark is delighted that two Brentford players have been recognised for international honours but he is also happy to have a break to allow his players to rest and recover after the busy start.
“I am delighted for the pair,” said Mark.
“It is great for Daniel to go away as he has trained well with us and there is now a chance for him to go away and play with his national squad which is fantastic.
“I have watched Alex from a really young age and it is a tremendous honour for him to be called up in this manner and it is testament to the playing quality that he has displayed with us week in week out.
“There are many new things about being promoted and the international break is another one for us.
“We have had a manic run of Saturday Tuesday games and we have had some knocks and some injuries.
“I am sure all teams and players are tired so to have that break is fantastic.
“We will be off on the Sunday and the boys will be in Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and they will work hard, especially on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“They will then have four days off before they come in the next Monday to start a normal week’s preparation for a game.
“They will train Monday and Tuesday, off Wednesday and then in Thursday and Friday.
“We want to try and keep the final week into the game as normal as possible in preparation for Brighton but also maximise the break, recover and recharge the batteries.”