Sydney FC recruit Jack Rodwell says fans of former club Western Sydney who are upset by his cross-town move should air their frustrations with the Wanderers’ hierarchy.
Rodwell joined the Wanderers on the eve of last season’s Isuzu UTE A-League campaign and the former England international was a handy pick-up with his ability to play through the middle of the park.
The ex-Everton and Manchester City midfielder signed a one-year deal but when the season wound up he was in a foreign country without an offer of an extension, despite some impressive showings.
The 31-year-old said he waited as long as he could for the Wanderers to get back to him but when he was training on his own he had no other option but to take a deal with Sydney.
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“I officially had no offers on the table so I couldn’t wait any longer,” he told AAP, with the highly anticipated first Sydney Derby scheduled for November 12 at the new Allianz Stadium.
“If I had turned down an offer (from the Wanderers) I could understand (fans’ frustrations), but at the time, nothing was happening at the Wanderers.
“I always got messages saying how much they (the Wanderers) wanted me and it didn’t come across that way (from other people at the club).
“I understand the fans’ point of view, but sometimes they don’t know the full story.”
Rodwell was also heavily linked with a move to Macarthur FC to work under Manchester United great Dwight Yorke but said he was never approached by the Bulls.
“People know before me and someone actually messaged me saying: ‘congratulations on your move to Macarthur’ and I was (surprised),” he said.
“I think sometimes there’s a lot of rumours like that and a lot of times a player doesn’t really know much himself.”
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Rodwell played as a centre-back, in central midfield and behind the striker in his first year in Australia.
He has trained mainly in defence and midfield with Steve Corica’s Sky Blues.
The Englishman said he was relieved just to get on the pitch and get regular game-time last season but expressed a desire to take things up a gear after acclimatising to the game in Australia.
“It’s gone from being a more personal goal to play well and feel fit to here where it’s flipped a little bit,” he added.
“We’re drilling home how much we want to win. This team is desperate to win and this team is accustomed to winning.”
