Bentley keen to make amends at Blackburn Rovers (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Bentley keen to make amends at Blackburn Rovers
9:32am Tuesday 19th February 2013 in Sport
By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter
David Bentley
DAVID Bentley has apologised to Blackburn Rovers fans for the manner in which he exited the club five years ago – admitting he didn’t know what he had until he’d lost it.
The Spurs loanee made his Rovers return as a second half substitute in Saturday’s FA Cup win at Arsenal and is desperate to repay the club for giving him “the best times” of his career so far.
Ahead of tonight’s crucial Championship trip to Hull City, Bentley, right, admits ‘in hindsight’ quitting Rovers for Spurs in 2008 was a mistake but insists he did it solely for “footballing reasons”.
He also insists he regrets the way he behaved ahead of the £15million move, when he publicly stated his desire to leave, but believes he has since matured as a person.
He said: “I apologise to the Blackburn fans for the way I left and went about it all. I was young and naïve and maybe those decisions I made were the wrong decisions.
“I apologise because I loved being here and I thank the club for all they did for me, hopefully I can repay them now.
“I was a young man and made a mistake in moving. It was a decision I wanted at the time.
“You can’t act like that. I am not PR driven, I don’t have anyone looking after me telling me what to say, and I made mistakes along the way.
“When I finish I will able to say I did it my way. I would rather that than just spoon feed people lies.
“What you see is what you get and people don’t like that. Some would rather me show an image of being the perfect man but that isn’t the case.”
Bentley made more than 100 league appearances for Rovers between 2005 and 2008, helping the club into Europe, gained international recognition and won the player of the year award at Ewood.
Since moving to White Hart Lane Bentley’s career has stalled, with the wideman spending time on loan at Birmingham City, West Ham and Russian outfit FC Rostov.
“Rovers were the best years of my career because of the humble nature of the place, it was being part of a family. I didn’t realise how good it was until I left,” he said.
“It is nice to be back. Like it has been for me, it has been a difficult time for the club.
“This club’s foundations have always been on its morals and its history. It is a good place with good people and the club always needs to keep that.
“The last couple of years it has probably lost its heart and soul but with the manager and staff now it seems the club may be on an upward curl again.
“I could have stayed at Blackburn but I was trying to be ambitious. I was trying to drive my career forward, I didn’t really want to leave because I had it so nice and so good.”
Bentley has arrived at Ewood on loan until the end of the season, with Rovers expected to make attempts to make the move permanent in the summer, as the 28-year-old bids to restart his career.
He said: “Sometimes people don’t like my personality. Sometimes when you have a smile on your face, people think you are not working hard or taking things seriously. That is not the case.
“My decision to join Spurs was a footballing one, it just did not happen for me. I was a bit of a naughty boy at times.
“Maybe I was a bit cheeky at times. There were three or four instances that will get mentioned. The car crash incident, the water over Harry Redknapp – mistakes.
“Sometimes you get judged on a perception that was completely wrong.”
Comments are closed on this article.

Comments (37)
9:46am Tue 19 Feb 13
baz58 says...
9:49am Tue 19 Feb 13
GAZHAY says...
9:56am Tue 19 Feb 13
Ryanb74 says...
10:00am Tue 19 Feb 13
roversjeff says...
10:06am Tue 19 Feb 13
ford10 says...
10:07am Tue 19 Feb 13
AshirMan says...
10:33am Tue 19 Feb 13
jaysay says...
10:42am Tue 19 Feb 13
harrydb5 says...
10:59am Tue 19 Feb 13
hasslem hasslem says...
those who bear a grudge against bentley need to remember when we were poaching the likes of shearer, flowers and kenna from saints and sutty from norwich.....also ask if someone comes along waving a pig fat pay-cheque to themselves and the promise of the riches of croesus - how would they react?
if bentley is fit, got his head screwed on right - then he could terrorise full backs for us - jordan rhodes has scored a sackful with very little service, his goals to shots ratio must be among the best in the 92 clubs.....imagine how many he could get if bentley can do what we all saw in his great stay for us first time round - welcome back bentley - - no hard feelings from this particular rover!!!!
11:07am Tue 19 Feb 13
hasslem hasslem says...
11:10am Tue 19 Feb 13
drunken donut says...
C.O.Y.B.
11:17am Tue 19 Feb 13
bigste says...
11:19am Tue 19 Feb 13
A Rover 45 years and over says...
11:21am Tue 19 Feb 13
AndyW says...
Top-class player and hopefully we'll see a return to form.
Now where was that apology from Orr again...?
11:32am Tue 19 Feb 13
Dukes says...
11:33am Tue 19 Feb 13
fitz808 says...
i must admit to having not ill-feeling whatsoever when he left. it's always disappointing to lose your good players, but apart from a couple of fleeting seasons, it has always happened to clubs like ours.
i think the recent seasons have arguably brought that even closer to the fore. all we really need is to see things being run as well as possible and the club progressing on and off the field as much as possible. as a middle tier club, i think that's probably enough.
a trip or two to wembley would be lovely too!
11:39am Tue 19 Feb 13
Only1Garner says...
12:08pm Tue 19 Feb 13
plymouthrover says...
12:16pm Tue 19 Feb 13
steralc says...
I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry
Ha ha ha
12:37pm Tue 19 Feb 13
A Darener says...
12:54pm Tue 19 Feb 13
eddie the eagle says...
12:56pm Tue 19 Feb 13
Wild Rover says...
Oh how I enjoyed the hat trick that night...but I really hate Man U...somewhat more than our own noisy neighbours in E Lancs
Hope you stuff it to the Dingles in March, your timing is impeccable Sir
Onwards...m
1:04pm Tue 19 Feb 13
bluerob says...
Hope he can get his form back with us, top player and bags of ability on his day.
1:18pm Tue 19 Feb 13
bburnrover says...
2:34pm Tue 19 Feb 13
alfa111 says...
2:51pm Tue 19 Feb 13
MxMave says...
3:09pm Tue 19 Feb 13
vicn1956 says...
Glad to see you back. Loved reliving the memories of a great period-cup runs top ten regularly and Europe! Could almost forget the last 2 1/2 year- for a few seconds.
3:26pm Tue 19 Feb 13
Road Runner Road Runner says...
......
Bentley is class, a gold ingot that will flourish once again down at the good ship Ewood under astute leadership from our man Mr. Appy and Co.
I carry no caution or err with Bentley. Great to read and see humility from the guy, and he as me football excited once again. It feels good.
Arte et labore
3:50pm Tue 19 Feb 13
Road Runner Road Runner says...
......
Bentley is class, a gold ingot that will flourish once again down at the good ship Ewood under astute leadership from our man Mr. Appy and Co.
I carry no caution or err with Bentley. Great to read and see humility from the guy, and he as me football excited once again. It feels good.
Arte et labore
4:16pm Tue 19 Feb 13
merlinrabbit says...
5:17pm Tue 19 Feb 13
stick to football says...
If someone comes on here and says that if a job came along on a bigger salary with the possibility of enhancing ones career who would not take it ?
5:54pm Tue 19 Feb 13
noddy57 says...
6:24pm Tue 19 Feb 13
Wellsy11 says...
Just because he hasn't been in Spurs superb squad does not mean he is a poor player all of a sudden. He may well be another roque, but he had injury problems - Bentley has not. If he is even 80% of the old Bentley, he'll p1ss the championship. COYB
Serious lack of claret on here lately!!!
6:58pm Tue 19 Feb 13
peely says...
7:00pm Tue 19 Feb 13
icannotrace says...
Saying that you can't begrudge someone going else where for better money just hope they do it gracefully
10:05pm Tue 19 Feb 13
noddy57 says...
10:38pm Tue 19 Feb 13
modan says...
I have been ressurected in the ganges and sent to Blackburn .
BRFC and Venkys need me here in Blackburn.
This forum has been infected by BRAG,BNP and BURNLEY FANS.
The virus will be removed by MI5.