Pat McCourt moved to his hometown club three years ago

Stephen Kenny has claimed that the saga of Paddy McCourt's possible move to West Brom has stopped Derry City from being top of the Eircom League.

West Brom are understood to have offered �50,000 but Derry chairman Pat McDaid has described it as "derisory".

Derry manager Kenny said that the episode has been "unsettling for him (McCourt) and the the club".

"He's our best player. Had West Brom not come in, we'd probably be top of the league now," said the Derry boss.

Derry are currently in third place in the table, six points behind leaders St Patrick's Athletic.

The Candystripes manager insisted that Derry "are not going to be difficult to deal with overall in relation to Paddy McCourt".

The former Northern Ireland U21 international, who joined Derry City in 2005, has also been linked with other clubs in England and Scotland.

The transfer might not happen Derry City boss Stephen Kenny

"People don't want to stand in Paddy's way but I'm sure they don't want to be exploited either. That's the key to it.

"They have sold Curtis Davis for �8.5m and got �50m for going into the Premiership. They are a big club and a good club.

"People in Derry would be proud if Paddy McCourt gets a chance to go to West Brom and play in the Premiership but people have to be fair as well.

"We can't sign anyone until July to replace him. All of this stuff is going on and it has affected us."

The Derry manager added that McCourt's move to West Brom is "not necessarily done and dusted".

"It might not happen. He could stay here at least until the end of the season and then he may move to West Brom. That's another possibility.

"He can't go anywhere until July anyway. Paddy will hopefully be training again next week and could be involved in the Cork game (on 30 May)."