• Premier League

Rovers decisions 'haven't been the right ones' - Allardyce

Sam Allardyce was not allowed to leave Blackburn in the summer © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Arsenal target admires Wenger, but focused on Rovers
  

Sam Allardyce has revealed he wanted to leave Blackburn Rovers last summer to take over at Dubai side Al Ahli.

Allardyce was dismissed as Blackburn boss in December after Venky's took over the club in a decision described as "absolutely ridiculous" by Sir Alex Ferguson at the time.

Allardyce, though, has revealed he attempted to quit the club before the season had started as he wanted to take on the role in the Middle East.

"I had an offer on the table to come to Dubai and manage Al Ahli, back in May or June last year, a role that David O'Leary eventually took over," he told UAE newspaper XPRESS. "Ironically, I wasn't allowed to leave Blackburn at the time due to contractual obligations and so I had to turn down the offer that I was ready to accept.

"It's a shame. I was ready to make the move to Al Ahli. I would be prepared to come and coach in the UAE Pro League if the club and objectives were a fit for me, of course I would. Let's see what transpires, but there's nothing on the table."

Allardyce's replacement, Steve Kean, has overseen a dismal run of form in recent months and many believe Venky's made a mistake.

"The club didn't see me as a part of their future plans," Allardyce said. "What more can I say? They decided to terminate my employment without any real discussion with me, or opportunity for me to show them how to become a top-five football club. I wanted the same thing they did, but these things don't just happen overnight.

"The decision to terminate my contract was made well before they joined the club in my opinion because of how quickly I was removed once they took over. They are where they are, and it proves that the decisions that were made at the club so far haven't been the right ones."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.