SAM Allardyce has accused AWOL striker Benni McCarthy of ‘following the money’ after pouring scorn on his ‘World Cup reasons’ for wanting away from Ewood Park.

Rovers’ South African striker remained absent without leave yesterday, as he tried to force his club’s hand into allowing him to move to West Ham, after citing fears of being axed for the summer’s world cup as a reason.

West Ham and Rovers agreed a fee for McCarthy last night, believed to be in the region of £2m, and he is now talking personal terms.

A furious Allardyce though believes McCarthy’s desire to leave East Lancashire has been for more cynical reasons and expected his ‘missing’ striker to be waiting in London for the green light to agree a deal.

He said: “It will be the size of the contract and the size of the money that Benni will have already seen talked about.

“I know it’s said it shouldn’t happen but it does. They would not have been in contact with Benni directly but I would think that somebody will have got to Benni, somewhere along the line, saying it’s your sort of deal and he will fancy it.

“I’ve never had a player go on strike before, but Michael Ricketts was close to refusing to play for me at Bolton once.

“There’s no reason to think he was still in Spain. If I was guessing I’d say he was in London. We don’t like the situation, it’s very difficult but he’s been badly advised.

“We just had to make sure the situation gets resolved for the best of Blackburn Rovers. If you’re at a club you have to play for your place – World Cup or not. If you’re not consistent enough then you don’t get in the side. Simple as that.”

The Rovers boss is now preparing for life without McCarthy but has warned the striker not to expect life to be any easier at Upton Park.

He insists players get what they deserve in terms of team selection, claiming McCarthy’s irregular appearances were down to his own inconsistency.

“He’s been very badly advised because there is still the chance he would have to come back to this club and I don’t think he has considered that,” said Allardyce.

“We don’t know where he is currently.

“I know he’s been to Spain but I don’t think he’ll still be there – if I was a guessing man he was tucked away in London somewhere.

“If you don’t play to the best of your ability consistently then you don’t get in the side. David Dunn has been filling Benni’s position better than Benni did.

“That made life more difficult to get in the side for Benni but then Dunny gets an injury and Benni plays a bit more.

“So that is how it goes. I don’t favour players, it is their responsibility to give their best every single week.

“That’s how the cookie crumbles at this level.

“It’s very rarely I drop a player – it’s normally the player dropping themselves. With all the stats that are available, its difficult for a player to argue.

“That is most of the players’ problems this year.

“Those who haven’t played to their best have been left out, those who have have stayed in.”