West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis has revealed that Carlton Cole's deadline-day move was ready to be completed but other deals around the league stopped it from happening.
The West Ham United striker agreed personal terms and passed his medical but was unable to complete his move from the Hammers, due to the unsuccessful transfer of Tottenham Hotspur's Emmanuel Adebayor.
Cole is now likely to play in West Ham's fifth-round FA Cup tie, and Pulis has put the situation behind him.
"That's the way it spins at times. There was never a deal to be done unless West Ham agreed to it, which was right through to the last minutes of the negotiations," the 57-year-old told Sky Sports News.
"West Ham had said right from the start - they were very up front and very honest - they had to bring someone in before they would let Carlton go, and we understood that. Both clubs thought it was going to be done at one stage, but it wasn't, which is no fault of West Ham's whatsoever.
"But there was never any secret as to what the situation was. If they (West Ham) had brought someone in Carlton would have been available."
Cole reveals that he has no issues with Sam Allardyce, after reports suggested that the striker angrily confronted the Hammers boss on the phone.
Sam McEvoy
