CHRIS Sutton has revealed his regrets about telling Ewood fans earlier this year that he would be staying no matter what happened in the relegation battle.

The formalities of the England striker's £10 million move from Blackburn Rovers to Chelsea were completed last night before Sutton faced the Press to talk about his new club.

Later, he took time out to call the Lancashire Evening Telegraph so that he could fully explain his reasons for quitting relegated Rovers to the club's supporters.

He feels he had to play in the Premiership for the sake of his career - and international prospects - and didn't duck the issue of his "I'm staying" comments made last season.

"Yes, I do regret saying it now. The truth is that I just never expected Blackburn to go down," said Sutton from his London hotel. "Most people say they finally realise what has happened when the new fixtures come out but it really hit me hard at the end of the season.

"I'm 26 now and at an age when I should be coming to my peak.

"Division One is a hard league to get out of and I thought that if Blackburn didn't get out first time it would have been a year of my career wasted.

"It's never easy to leave, especially a place where you have been happy but I felt I had to do it for my career.

"But I wanted to leave with happy memories and not on bad terms. "I hope the fans understand my reasons. I know a number of players have not left on good terms but I don't want it to be like that.

"I know some people will be upset and annoyed but I hope that most will remember the good times and understand why I felt I had to leave.

"If I hadn't signed the last extension to my contract I could have left on a Bosman this summer. So at least the club have got a good deal out of it.

"I've had five years at Blackburn, not all of them have been good but the fans have always made me feel welcome.

"The club helped me to settle in quickly and my children were all born there and I enjoyed living in the area.

"I only bought my new house earlier this year and I was very settled. So, in many ways, I am sad about leaving. But there will always be a little bit of 'home' about it.

"It's just a great pity about what happened last season and I wish I had been in a position to do more about it.

"When I first joined Blackburn we won the league and there was a real buzz about the place.

"I hope they can get that back and that the club comes straight back up.

"Brian Kidd has been ever so good to me and I think he is a man who has been in the game so long and will be clued up and know what to do to get promotion. "Blackburn have the squad to do it but Division One is very tough and it will be all about consistency over 46 games."

Rovers have remained realistic about the Sutton situation, determined simply to get the best deal they could for the club.

In most respects they have done that, while Sutton's reward is a six-year Chelsea contract.

Rovers chief executive John Williams said: "At the end of last season Chris Sutton made it clear that he felt the time was right for him to further his career away from Ewood Park.

"That being the case, we immediately underlined our determination to secure the best possible financial deal for the club.

"We now feel we have achieved that goal, the £10 million doubling the then British record fee we paid to Norwich City for the player some five years ago."

Meanwhile, Martin Dahlin officially announced his retirement at a Press conference in Sweden last night and Rovers will pursue an insurance claim as it has been prompted by back problems.

Williams explained: "His decision to retire has been accelerated by a back injury.

"Blackburn Rovers have negotiated a financial settlement with the player for the outstanding year on his contract and will now pursue an insurance claim."

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