ROBBIE Savage today opened his heart and admitted the decision to leave Blackburn Rovers is one of the hardest he has ever had to make.

In an emotional interview with the Lancashire Telegraph, the former Wales international has confessed he needs to move on because not playing regular first-team football is killing him'.

However, the 33-year-old, who is wanted by Derby, Sunderland and Wigan, insists he has not had a fall-out with manager Mark Hughes, and said if he does get his wish in the transfer window then he will leave Rovers with a heavy heart.

Speaking for the first time since it emerged that Hughes was prepared to sell him, Savage said: "It's been a difficult decision - probably the hardest I've ever had to make - but after several chats with the manager, I just feel it's time to go.

"It's not a case of the club shoving me out of the door, it was more me going in to see the gaffer and him understanding me as a person.

"Playing football means everything to me and that's what this is all about; I need to be playing regular first team football.

"I know that might mean swapping a club with a realistic aim of qualifying for Europe, for one that is maybe fighting a relegation battle.

"But maybe my fighting qualities, both as a player and a person, might come in handy somewhere else.

"It's not a case of me throwing my toys out of the pram like I did at Birmingham - that was for completely different rea-sons.

"When I left there, I wanted to better myself and play for a manager and a club I had great belief in, and I feel I have done that over the last three years.

"But now I'm 33, I'm fighting fit, and I need to play football.

"To be fair to the manager, he's been great about the situation.

"He's not like some managers I know, who would have put their foot down and said you're not going anywhere.

"He's been realistic because he knows me as a person, and he understands that when I'm not playing, it kills me."

When Savage signed a new contract with Rovers 12 months ago, he was expecting to see out the rest of his career at Ewood, where he has enjoyed three great years.

But then he sustained a broken leg in a game at Watford last January, and he has ceased to be an automatic choice since, to the point where he has made just one Premier League start since the 2-1 win at Tottenham in October.

"I thought I was going to be at Blackburn for the rest of my career, but football can change so quickly," said Savage.

"I'm at a great club, with a great chairmen and a great manager, where I know everything is heading in the right direction.

"But sometimes you've got to do what's right for yourself and, in my case, that means going somewhere else in order to get regular first team football.

"There's nothing I would have liked more than the gaffer pulling me to one side and saying, 'Look Sav, you're still a big part of my plans here, and I can guarantee you a regular starting place'.

"That would have been everything I could have wished for and more.

"But the fact is, he said he couldn't guarantee me that, and I've been big enough to accept that happens in football.

"I know some might say I'm not good enough for Blackburn anymore, but I'd dispute that.

"Others might say, 'why don't you stay and fight for my place?' "But I'm a realist and if I'm not getting in the side now, then what are the chances of me playing regularly next season?"

Although a parting of the ways now seems inevitable, with Rovers in talks with several clubs about a deal to sell Savage, the midfielder insists his departure is perfectly amicable.

"The one thing I don't want to do is leave another club on bad terms," said Savage, making a veiled reference to his exit at Birmingham.

"There's been no arguments and no fall-outs, and that's exactly how it should be.

"I've got nothing but respect for Mark Hughes, the chairman John Williams, and Blackburn Rovers as a football club, and if it turns out that I've played my last game for the club then I've had three wonderful years.

"I went through a lot of pain and upset when I left Birmingham to come here, but it was all worthwhile and I don't regret it for a second.

"I honestly don't have a bad word to say about this football club, and I'd advise any young player to come here because, in my opinion, it's one of the best clubs - if not the best - outside of the big four."

Now Savage is hoping his future can be resolved quickly, with Derby and Sunderland yet to match Rovers' valuation of the player.

He added: "I just hope things get sorted out fairly quickly for the sake of both parties.

"Then I can get on with my career, and the manager can use the money to get someone else.

"I think I've still got two or three years left to offer someone, and that's what I want to do."