ROBBIE Blake brought his Turf Moor love affair to an end by becoming the first player in the post-Coyle era to make the controversial switch to Bolton Wanderers.

But he hopes the Burnley faithful won’t hold it against him.

The 34-year-old described his decision to turn down the Clarets’ appearance-based two-year offer as both a risk and a wrench after three weeks of soul-searching.

“I love the club. I love the fans,” said Blake, who made almost 300 appearances for Burnley under four managers, over two spells, scoring 72 goals.

Blake told the Lancashire Teleg-raph he believed he would end his career at Turf Moor.

He became a then club record sale when he joined Birmingham City for £1.25million in January 2005, returning under Steve Cotterill two-and-half years later, via Leeds.

But after experiencing the highs of promotion, and etching his name in folklore by scoring the Clarets’ first Premier League goal – an unforgettable and unstoppable volley against Manchester United that earned their first win – he admits he foresaw a bleak future, on a personal level, under current boss Brian Laws and had to walk away.

“I didn’t feel as though I was wanted. I didn’t feel as though I was going to play games.

"It was a case of taking a risk,” said the former Bradford City man, who rejected the offer of a new two-year contract because the second year was conditional to him making 20 starts.

“I would probably say I’m the opposite to Brian’s type of player.

“I only started four games under him, but it wasn’t as though we were winning games.

"We were losing a lot and I wasn’t being given the opportunity.”

Blake has been offered only 12 months at the Reebok Stadium, with a further 12-month option, and is believed to be seen more of an impact player by manager Owen Coyle.

His decision to leave begs many questions for Burnley fans.

But Blake believes another crack at the Premier League was too good an opportunity to pass up.

“Burnley were very good to me throughout the years and I’ve got a lot to be thankful to them for, but it was time for me to move on,” said the Middlesbrough-born forward, who only heard of Bolton’s interest late on Monday night.

“I got a call from Owen at about 10pm. He said he was looking to do something and could I go in with my agent the following morning.

“It was quite a shock. I’d actually been thinking of asking Simon Grayson if I could train with Leeds just to keep fit, because I knew everyone else was going to be going back and I only live 10 minutes away from their training ground.

“This was totally out of the blue.

“I don’t expect to walk straight into the team here, everybody has got to fight for a place.

“But with the gaffer if you are playing well you will stay in the team, so it’s up to me to get in the team and show that.”

He added: “Hopefully the Burnley fans won’t take too badly to me going to Bolton.

“I think my situation is different to the manager’s when he left.

“I wanted to stay at the football club, but I didn’t get offered the two years I felt I deserved.

"The bottom line is I want Burnley to get promoted. I want the club to be successful.

"If Brian's the man to do that good luck to him, I hope he succeeds."

Equally, Laws has wished Blake well. “Robbie’s been a great servant to this football club,” said the Burnley boss.

“I spoke to him at length over the summer and to his agent.

"We stressed all along what our objectives were, and his objectives were that he wants to play games and that’s important to him at this stage of his career.

“Hopefully he gets that at Bolton.

“He knows the manager and the manager knows him. We wish him well.

!He’s still in the Premier League so I think that’s been a real draw for him.”