Micky Adams insists the door is still open for Stern John to make a return to the Ricoh Arena.
The Trinidad and Tobago international completed a three month loan deal to Derby County today, with a view to a permanent move, but the Sky Blues boss has not ruled out the club's highest paid player pulling on a City shirt again.
"I have never had a problem with Stern," said Adams who insists the move is more to do with finances than anything else.
"In fact, I think people were saying that was the best they had seen him play at the end of last season. But going away on international duty and losing his place, and let's not kid ourselves, he is one of the highest paid play-ers at the club.
"He initially joins on a loan deal until December 17 with a view to a permanent move but I don't know if that would involve a fee."
But what if John suddenly sparks into form or City are short of strikers come Christmas.
"The door is not closed on Stern John as far as I am concerned," he said.
And Adams is not convinced that just because he is significantly lightening the club's wage bill that the money will be made available to bring in fresh faces.
"The finances at the club are tight and will remain so regardless of Stern's move, so it will not dictate whether I can bring new players in," he said.