Bristol Rovers are set to find out at a Football League tribunal on Wednesday how much compensation Chelsea must pay them for striker Scott Sinclair, 16. The Blues offered �85,000 but the Pirates want at least �350,000.
"We invest heavily in our youth policy, and he's been with us since he was nine and we offered him pro terms," director Kevin Spencer told BBC Radio Bristol.
"When our players have moved to higher clubs it has been with our agreement, but that hasn't happened this time."
Sinclair was out of contract last summer but Rovers are entitled to a fee as he is under 24.