Keith Andrews revealed his departure from Blackburn Rovers left a ‘sour taste’.
The Ireland midfielder joined West Brom within hours of the transfer deadline but admitted it was a stressful end to his days at Ewood Park.
He revealed: "I was still in the canteen at Blackburn at 7pm on the night the transfer window closed waiting for things to materialise. There were a lot of points in the day I thought it was not going to happen and I was still going to be there come 11pm. They were dragging their heels and at one stage I nearly left. Thankfully, I was advised to just stick it out. There were other offers but once I knew the manager (Roy Hodgson) was interested I made up my mind. He is a top manager. I think I can learn off him."
Andrews was unwilling to criticise individuals at Blackburn but was clearly angered by the way he was treated.
"I could have remained at Blackburn and got minutes on the pitch," he said. "Stuff went on in the summer and I felt my time was done. I am keen to play for a club with a manager that wants me.
"It is fairly common knowledge that last season I had an injury that turned into an infection and I only played five or six games.
"People at the club deemed that I was just a number – ‘we don’t want him at the football club’.
"Without even consulting me I was branded around without my consent.
"There is a little bit of a sour taste left in my mouth. When I was there my conscience was clear I gave everything I had.
"I’m a big boy – it happens – but it didn’t need to come to that."
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Saturday, February 04, 2012
