Blackpool manager Lee Clark has revealed that he was instructed by club chairman Karl Oyston not to select young duo Dominic Telford and Mark Waddington over the weekend because of contract issues.
The pair have both been offered basic contracts for graduating from the academy into the seniors, but are said to want better deals because of their first-team impact, according to the Blackpool Gazette.
Oyston banned the pair from first-team training on Friday and told Clark that he couldn't pick them for Saturday's Championship game against fellow strugglers Millwall.
Speaking on the pair, Clark said: "I want them in my group. I don't do finances – I'm a football manager and I don't deal with player contracts.
"I've advised the chairman how important these players are to me and I want them around us. I can't do any more."
The duo's absence didn't hurt the rock-bottom Tangerines too badly as they won their third game of the season to move within eight points of safety.
Pascal Lemesre
