SWINDON Town chairman Lee Power has revealed that he rejected a ‘big, big offer’ for star goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux during the January transfer window but that he wouldn’t stand in the player’s way should a golden opportunity present itself in the future.

Last summer, Town shelled out a fee believed to be in the region of £400,000 to bring the 23-year-old to the County Ground from Liverpool, with Vigouroux signing a three-year deal that runs until the end of the 2018-19 season.

With Swindon fighting to stay away from the League One relegation zone, Power, who was speaking during a fans’ phone-in hosted by BBC Wiltshire, says that Vigouroux, who has no release clause in his contract, proved too valuable to let go last month.

However, the Town supremo admits that he wouldn’t dig his heels in if Vigouroux senses the perfect chance to progress his career.

“I had a big, big offer for him in this window but he’s too key to us,” said Power.

“The money that we would lose from going down is too much. It wasn’t enough money – we turned it down.

“Lawrence is a fantastic goalkeeper. Everywhere we go, people talk about Lawrence.

“He hasn’t got a clause in there but it’s like any other player; it’s difficult to explain to fans that when a player does want to go, it’s very difficult to stand in their way.

“We’ve asked Lawrence to come and sign permanently from Liverpool on the proviso and the promise that if he does well, that we wouldn’t stand in his way if he had an opportunity.

“If someone was earning £2,000 or £3,000-a-week and somebody comes in and offers them £20,000 or £15,000-a-week, it’s impossible for those lads not to go.

“It’s nothing detrimental. A lot of supporters get hurt and look at loyalty but that’s football unfortunately nowadays.

“You can’t stand in the way.”

Power did state his belief that 18-year-old goalie Will Henry, who has attended two England Goalkeepers Camps this season, would be an able successor should Vigouroux one day move on.

The Town chairman said: “That’s one thing that we have got – if ever that situation did come and Lawrence went, we’ve got a ready-made replacement.

“He’s been different class and I know a lot of different people really like Will, and his chance will come.”

Power also confirmed that head coach Luke Williams does have some say in team selection, having previously stated that Tim Sherwood would ‘head up all aspects – transfers, the way that we play, the formations and the picking of the team’ when appointing his close friend Swindon’s director of football last November.

The Town owner also says that Williams will continue to conduct post-match media interviews, and not Sherwood.

“He (Williams) has always had responsibility and he’s always been a key part in that,” said Power.

“I think that Tim just came in to help him and was a sounding board, and between them, obviously they pick the side.

“The bit that’s a bit confusing is that Luke is the person that does the post-match (interviews), but he’s always been that – win, lose or draw – and will continue to be that.”