James Alabi did not inform his loan club, Dover Athletic, that he was looking to transfer to another team, according to Chris Kinnear.

Kinnear said Alabi, who was on loan from Tranmere Rovers, didn’t turn up for training one day and was not told about his proposed transfer to National League rivals Ebbsfleet.

It was revealed on Wednesday that Fleet had reached an agreement for a permanent deal for the forward.

Kinnear said: “It’s down to Tranmere, Ebbsfleet and the FA. We aren’t sure there are letters going around all over the shop. He has left us and made that quite clear.

“He just didn’t turn up for training one day. That’s football and you just move on. We will try and get other players in.

“We weren’t told and there were pictures of him going to Ebbsfleet. We find out after the pictures are in the papers.”

Earlier in the week the official website of Tranmere had reported that Alabi had extended his loan spell with the Whites until the end of the season.

He was then spotted at Fleet’s match with Maidstone on Tuesday evening and their manager, Daryl McMahon, confirmed a deal was in place.

Kinnear did wish Alabi all the best for the future after making 10 appearances in the National League and scoring once.

He said: “It didn’t quite work out for him here and whatever he does in the future good luck to him. He’s a nice lad and we wish him all the best.”

Fresh doubt has been cast over Alabi’s signing for Ebbsfleet.

Tranmere manager Micky Mellon said on Thursday, in his weekly press conference, that he is still a Dover player and that Ebbsfleet had jumped the gun, according to the Chester Chronicle.

Alabi joined Tranmere in the summer after scoring 17 goals for Chester. However, Chester have yet to receive any money following the switch.