I've always put my body on the line... now let me go

WHEN Chris Samba agreed to sign a new contract at Blackburn last year he did so after a whole load of promises from owners Venky's.

The Rovers captain, 27, reckons the chicken farmers just plucked any old pledge out of the sky to make him stay and had no intention of fulfilling them.

Venky's vowed to invest millions in the squad, told Samba the club would be challenging for Europe and that big names like Ronaldinho were on the way.

Twelve months later there are no new superstars in town, no big money has been spent and Rovers are in the thick of a relegation battle.

Samba has had enough. He wants out and he has told the owners so.

The two sides are at war and Samba is fuming Blackburn, currently third from bottom in the Premier League with just four victories, are blocking his ambitions to move on.

He said: "I've put my body on the line for this club, even playing when I've been injured.

"Nobody can say I have not given everything for Blackburn.

"Look at any photos of me playing for the team and you can see my commitment when I'm on that pitch.

"I even got knocked out by Andriy Shevchenko playing against Chelsea.

"But things have to work both ways."

Samba added: "I signed a new deal last January right at the end of the transfer window because Venky's told me they had big plans.

"Names like Ronaldinho were mentioned and they promised there was going to be a lot of investment in the team.

"It hasn't happened and I've decided I can't stay anymore.

"I want to go to a club with ambitions like mine, which wants to go forward. Blackburn aren't going forward at all. If anything we are worse off than a year ago."

Samba, signed by Mark Hughes five years ago, has vented his anger at manager Steve Kean and it drives the defender mad that he can only ever talk to the Indian-based owners by phone.

The centre-back added: "I've told the manager how I feel but there's not much point because the owners decide what happens.

"I told them last week in a conference call how I felt and that I wanted to go and they just said 'no'.

"It's very difficult dealing with people who you never see and are always away from the club.

"I would prefer to do it face to face and then maybe they would see my point of view.

"They don't understand football in this country and they don't realise how much I've given to Blackburn and that they have broken promises they have made. I stayed because I believed them but they weren't honest with me and I now know I made the wrong decision.

"I share the frustration of the fans who must have believed the owners too.

"The club is in a difficult situation in the league and I don't want Blackburn to be relegated.

"That's why I'm training with the reserves so that I wouldn't be seen as causing problems while the first-team are preparing for important games."

Samba believes Venky's have been greedy by previously demanding £15million for his services when interest came in from the likes of Arsenal.

He insisted: "I'm not a £15m player. Blackburn only signed me for £400,000 from Hertha Berlin and if they get £7m now then that's very good business.

"It's very difficult for me to focus on football with what's going on.

"They have to consider how I feel and that it makes good business sense for them to arrange a transfer.

"I've got nothing against the manager. It's not like he's been given £100m to spend, he's trying to do the best he can with what he has.

"This is between me and the owners. It's personal.

"A footballer has a short career and you have to make the best of it so I have to think about myself and what's best for my family."

Samba insists he feels no animosity towards Blackburn as a club and hopes the fans will sympathise with his position.

The defender said: "Look, I've enjoyed my time here.

"The supporters have been good to me and I have put in the performances for them.

"Blackburn have helped make me the player and person I am.

"But I've been here a long time, given good value and it's time to part.

"I've talked to the other players about it and they understand my situation."

Should Venky's cave in, where would Samba like to go?

The 6ft 4in Congolese star said: "I know there are clubs interested in me.

"And I want to be at a place which is ambitious and wants to invest and improve.

"I would prefer to stay in this country because my game is well suited to the Premier League.

"I'm not getting any younger and I have to do this.

"I don't want any regrets at the end of my career."