Gareth McAuley opens up about West Brom exit
Gareth McAuley has opened up about his Albion exit and suggested head coach Darren Moore was keen to keep him.
The 38-year-old defender was released in the summer after seven successful years at The Hawthorns alongside Claudio Yacob and Boaz Myhill – who has since been re-signed.
But in an interview with The Times, the Northern Irishman claims the club let him go because of his age even though Moore wanted him to stay.
“I spoke to Big Mooro," said McAuley. "He said if he got the job, he’d want me around.
"All the summer I was preparing myself to go back. Then I got a call from Big Mooro.
"He said, ‘Look, the club have a problem with your age.’ ‘OK. Can you show me on the GPS?’ My figures were always good.”
McAuley defied age for much of his Albion career, and has been backed to carry on until he turns 40.
He's eager to keep playing this season and while he's had offers from Hearts and Rangers, among others, he's yet to decide where to go next.
McAuley started just five Premier League games last season, and didn't feature at all after a 2-1 defeat to Southampton in the FA Cup in February.
Moore named him in just two of his six match-day squads as caretaker boss.
The defender approached Albion in January to ask about his limited game time.
He added: “My head and my heart were saying, ‘You have to fight and try and help the club.’
"So I went and asked the hierarchy, ‘What do I need to do to get in the team?’ ‘Nothing,’ they said.
"‘What do you mean nothing?’ ‘Jonny [Evans] is worth £30 million and we gave Ahmed [Hegazi] five years [contract], so if we play you we’re going to look stupid.’
“I said, ‘We’ve just lost four games in a row, surely you’re going to do something?’ ‘No,’ they said.
"I said, ‘OK, I need to play, can I go on loan?’ ‘No, you can’t because we might sell Jonny and you might have to play. We’re not going to play you but you can’t leave.’ From January on it was difficult. I kept my head down and kept training.”
McAuley made 227 appearances for the Baggies across a seven-year stint after joining on a free transfer from Ipswich Town, and revealed he was still in WhatsApp groups with Albion players.
"I never really had a chance to say goodbye," he said."I’ve messaged and phoned the lads but not said goodbye to the staff, who made me feel at home over the years.
"The kids say, ‘You can play more with us.’ But the wee man’s eight and doesn’t fully understand the situation.
"He’s still looking out for West Brom results. His whole life has been going to West Brom games and Daddy going to training at West Brom.”
