Mick McCarthy has admitted he understands Ian Harte's decision to reject a short term contract to throw his lot in with Wolves.

Ian had spent three weeks on trial with Wolves in a bid to win some form of permanent deal, but decided over the weekend to turn down a short term contract in the hope of securing a longer stay elsewhere.

Had he taken up a short term deal at Wolves and it not been extended after the closure of the transfer window on August 31, he would then have been unable to play for anyone else until the window re-opened in January.

Mick, who was ideally looking at Ian as cover given the form of full backs George Elokobi and Kevin Foley, has no complaints with the defender's decision.

"Hartey settled in really well about the place but he'd like a longer term deal somewhere which is fair enough," he said.

"Perhaps taking a short term deal can cause problems in that if I decided not to carry it on in either September or October then he's left in limbo because of the transfer window.

"At the moment he is a free agent and when the window shuts he can still go somewhere because he's going in there out of contract.

"I guess this leaves him with a few more options in terms of trying to get a longer contract.

"He was an option for me and I said to him that the option was there to try and win a longer deal.

"If he didn't want to do it then fine, shake hands and we both walk away.

"Hartey's great, I gave him about 50 caps, but George Elokobi is my number one left back.

"It was just an opportunity for us to have a look at Hartey and him to have a look at us.

"But his better options are that he remains a free agent even when the window shuts and he can still look for first team football."

Mick has also confirmed that Rob Edwards didn't feature in last night's friendly with Stafford because he is in talks over a possible move to Blackpool.