AUSSIE keeper John Filan today insisted he has no option but to quit Rovers after failing to dislodge Brad Friedel as Ewood's undisputed number one.
As we exclusively revealed earlier this week, Filan has slapped in a transfer request after becoming increasingly disillusioned with life at Ewood.
And now the former Coventry stopper has opened his heart on the reasons behind his decision to leave -- just months after asking to be taken off the list following a similar request last season.
"Obviously, after getting promotion we suddenly found ourselves in a different league so I decided to stay in the summer and see how things went," said Filan.
"But, unfortunately, now I find myself in a bit of a strange situation, being rotated on the bench with Alan Kelly.
"I know that's not good for me because in the last 11 months, I've only played something like 10 games -- nine with the reserves and one in the Worthington Cup.
"That's not a situation I particularly want to be in so I'm now trying to do everything I can to get a move so I can get back playing again."
Filan's current situation is a far cry from the position he was in a year ago when he was celebrating a recall to the Australia national squad on the back of some impressive performances for Rovers in the First Division.
However, Friedel's subsequent arrival then saw him relegated to the Ewood subs' bench, where he has remained ever since.
And that has ultimately cost him his place at international level as the Aussies attempt to book their place at next summer's World Cup finals.
"Unfortunately, I'd just made it into the Australian squad when the manager decided to change the keeper and that kind of killed me internationally," said Filan.
"But that's not really my number one priority at the minute, I just want to get back playing because my current situation isn't helping anyone.
"I just want to move on and make a fresh start. I've been here five seasons now and it's time to leave."
Despite seeing Friedel take his place, however, he admits the American has done well since he arrived on a free from Liverpool last November.
"Brad's just trying to do the best for himself and I'd probably do the same if I was in a similar situation.
"So there's no problem between me and him."
In the meantime, manager Graeme Souness will continue to rotate both Filan and Kelly until Rovers receive a concrete offer.
"I explained to both Alan Kelly and John when Brad came along that one of them could go, but not both," said Souness.
"So at that time people knew they were both available but, to date, we've only had one firm offer for either of them, which was Tottenham's for Kelly.
"But the goalkeeping situation can change at any time. If Brad suddenly got injured then we'd have to replace him and that could open the door for one of the other two."
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