Forest Green 'will turn down bids' for Mendy - Savage

Forest Green Rovers boss Robbie Savage says the club will turn down bids for midfielder Laurent Mendy as he prepares his side for the new National League season. Rovers kick their campaign off with a home fixture against Halifax Town on Saturday, 8 August after the National League fixture list was announced on Friday. Forest Green finished seventh last season, just inside the play-off places, but lost after extra-time at the eliminator stage to eventual play-off finalists Boreham Wood. There has been renewed speculation in recent days that midfielder Mendy is being lined up for a summer move to Hearts after Savage confirmed they rejected a bid from the Scottish club for the Frenchman in January. "No bid [yet this summer]," Savage told BBC Radio Gloucestershire. "We had a bid in January for Laurent which we thought was miles under our valuation. "There's no bid at all for Laurent Mendy. There has been contact from Hearts but no official offer from Hearts, not from any other club. "I think our stance is pretty clear, not for sale. I look at the teams who are expecting to be in the play-off positions, and get promotion, and I don't see any of them selling their, arguably, best player at this stage of the season. "I understand that people have got ambitions and aims, they want to play as high as they can - I get it, I've been a player, so I understand it. "But now I am a manager, and what I've realised is - the investment that Dale [Vince] has put into this football club - we want to keep our best players. "Unfortunately, in football, you don't get what you want. And I'm not saying Laurent wants to go, I'm saying no bid has been received. If any bids come in, we'll turn them down. "Why would we want to sell our best assets? Because those players want to play higher. We need to get promoted and we're going to keep our best players." Savage also acknowledged the club were on the lookout for a new goalkeeper after their squad list was published without a number one. "We are looking at a number one," Savage added. "If a keeper comes in then he will be in competition with the one who does best in pre-season - whether that's Luke [McNicholas] or Pags [Fiachra Pagel]. "Will it be a loan, will it be a free transfer? But if we don't bring one in, it'll be down to Luke and Pags to fight it out for that starting position on the first game of the season against Halifax."