Hearts of Oak Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Fredrick Moore has opened up about the circumstances surrounding Joseph Esso’s exit from the club.
The Phobians parted ways with the 23-year-old after negotiations on a new contract hit a snag.
The club was willing to tie Esso down with a new deal but he wanted to leave, having made 14 appearances and scoring three goals in the truncated 2019/20 Ghana Premier League season.
"When we met, the technical team, the communication team was there. I chaired that meeting. That was the day we were releasing the players that we think we didn't want to count on them again," Fredrick Moore told Ashaiman TV.
'That was the same day we met Esso. His contract has ended. The only thing we could do was to extend it for him to stay and if the player says he wants to leave, what else do I need to explain to people," he added.
Hearts parted ways with five players including Christopher Bonney, Abuabakar Traore, Benjamin Agyare and Bernard Arthur ahead of next season.
"I've seen so many things on social media, I can't go round and try to answer everything on social media. Yesterday, I read about a player who has travelled back from abroad said he's negotiating with me for the last few months and I haven't accepted, let me tell you, I've never met the player," he continued.
"Today, I heard Ashgold is negotiating with one of our players. Ashgold have not written any letter to us regarding our player. In management, what I have to look at are the goals you want to fulfil. If I spend all my time talking about the past, we'll never achieve our goals"
"We also heard people saying every year players force their ways out from the club. If I ask you, the year before, how many players left, you wouldn't be able to tell me."