Gallagher: My Futures Away From Ewood Park

Blackburn Rovers striker (or is he a midfielder or a winger now?!?! It's been so long since we saw him do we even know!!!) Paul Gallagher has conceded defeat in his quest to break through at Ewood Park.

Gallagher burst onto the scene as a 19-year-old and BIG things were expected from him, but with him now 24-year-old and showing no signs of making further inroads into the first-team at Rovers (and several loan spells later) the Scot (who is currently on a season-long loan with Plymouth Argyle) is virtually resigned to leaving Rovers next summer.

Gallagher told the Lancashire Telegraph: "Sometimes you have to take a step backwards to move forward and that is what I hope I have done by moving into the Championship.

"For quite a while now I have thought it might be time for me leave Blackburn permanently. It is disappointing but that is football.

"I have to go where I can play regular football and, being honest I can't see that happening at Rovers.

"At the moment all I can concentrate on is playing for Plymouth, I don't even know what Blackburn are thinking. But I have to admit I don't really expect to still be a Blackburn player come next season."

Gally got fairly regular football with Rovers between 2003 and 2005, and also made his International debit with Scotland in 2004 but since then he has been reduced to even less than a bit part and been out on loan several times. Gally feels he should've been given more of a chance than he has been and won't wait around for this to come any longer.

He added: "I need to be playing regular football at my age and that does not look like it is ever going to happen at Blackburn.

"I don't feel as though I have had the chances I deserved there but that is football. I was flying at one stage but things never progressed like I thought they would.

"In the summer Paul Ince told me I could stay if I wanted and that he liked me as a player but I knew it was time to get out, I had heard it all before to be honest.

"What has happened at Blackburn has cost me my chances with Scotland, how can the manager pick me if I am not playing for my club? But I still have hopes of getting back involved with Scotland in the future."

The Scot doesn't doubt his own ability and still feels that he could be a success in the Premier League and thinks that he can get back into the Scotland Squad, he isn't ruling out staying with Plymouth permanently either.

Gally also said: "I showed I could score goals in the Premier League and, given the chance, I believe I would have had far more Rovers goals to my name.

I am not giving up on playing in the Premier League, I believe that is where I should be playing, but at the moment I just need to be playing football.

I am really enjoying myself at Plymouth. Paul Sturrock is a very good manager and has been great for me. Perhaps there will be the chance to stay at Plymouth, I am leaving all my options open.

I do agree with Gally that he hasn't been given enough of a chance with Rovers, but it IS time for him to move on, which is something that I have felt for the past 12-18-months or so.


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