Perch played under Newcastle assistant manager Colin Calderwood at Forest

Nottingham Forest have turned down a "derisory" offer from Newcastle United for defender James Perch, reports BBC Radio Nottingham.

The 24-year-old has only appeared four times this season because of injury, but that has not stopped Forest's promotion rivals making a bid.

Manager Billy Davies said: "We must be doing something right if other teams in our division want our players.

"But we're looking to build a squad, not dismantle one. He's not leaving."

Davies has also insisted that he does not want to, or have to, sell players in the January transfer window.

"Newcastle's offer for someone we value so highly as a player and an individual was derisory and I'm disappointed it made it into the public domain. That's not our way of doing business," he said.

Perch has been with the club since he was a youngster, and has made more than 200 appearances for the Reds.

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