Derby boss Paul Jewell admits he is "disappointed" Manchester City have declined to help pay the wages of injured on-loan defender Danny Mills.
Former England international Mills joined the Rams on loan until the end of the season earlier this month but suffered a serious knee injury in only his third appearance for the Rams in the 3-1 defeat to Portsmouth.
Mills underwent an operation on Tuesday and he is not expected to return to action this season, dealing Derby another blow in what has been a disastrous campaign.
County, who host Sven-Goran Eriksson's side at Pride Park on Wednesday, contacted City in a bid to cancel the loan or gain help with Mills' salary, but Jewell revealed both requests had been rejected.
"I asked Manchester City if they could help with the wages because we have lost Danny now for the season," said Jewell.
"His wages are quite high but they wouldn't play ball so we have to pay all his wages and at the same time they wouldn't cancel the loan.
"It's a bit disappointing but I guess that's the way people do business.
"I guess it's the Premier League, every man for himself, sometimes you get a little disappointed in the way some people do stuff."
Jewell insists he will have "no axe to grind" but believes County would have acted differently if they had been put in a similar situation.
No axe to grind
He said: "I would like to think that we would have done something. I shouldn't comment on Manchester City but if it was the other way round I think we would like to make some gesture. "I know Manchester City have to look after their own affairs and that's the way they do it but I would like to think that if it was the other way round, I'm not saying that we would pay it all, but that we would make some contribution.
"You never know, Manchester City might want a favour off us one day."
He added: "I have no axe to grind with Manchester City. Maybe I would like to think in the spirit of the game they might do something.
"In the past it has happened to me, certainly at Wigan, and we have been reasonable."
" Tell yer what, keep paying his wages....and you can have him for fuck all" 