Jermaine Pennant: "I've been written off in England"

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 19 February 2016

Tampine Rovers attacker Jermaine Pennant reveals that he left English football last summer after becoming frustrated with rejection.

Jermaine Pennant has revealed that his decision to sign for Singaporean outfit Tampine Rovers came about because English clubs have 'written him off' due to the attacker's colourful past.

The 33-year-old joined Arsenal as a 15-year-old from Notts County in 1999, but he largely struggled to make an impact at the London club and spent the majority of his time with the Gunners out on loan.

The former England Under-21 international also represented Liverpool between 2006 and 2009, but his last English club was Wigan Athletic, whom he left on a free transfer last summer.

Pennant has revealed that he offered to train with a number of English teams in a bid to gain a contract, but he decided to seek pastures new due to a lack of interest.

"I think I've been written off in England. My past doesn't help, I know that, but a lot of clubs are very quick to judge a book by its cover," Pennant, who spent 30 days in prison for drink driving while on loan at Birmingham City in 2005, told The Mirror.

"Last summer I was offering to go in and train with clubs, to try to earn a contract, and I'm told that people were writing to the chairmen saying: 'Don't sign this player. He's this. He's that.' I've sat there thinking, 'How is this possible? How can no club in England, even in the Championship, want me even to train?'

"I know from Wigan last season I could do more than a good job in the Championship, but people were trying to sabotage my career. People might call it a step down, but I'm looking at it as a step up, a chance to achieve things I maybe couldn't in England. If I do it correctly, it will be great for me."

Pennant, who has also had spells in Spain and India, penned a one-year contract with Tampine Rovers last month.