Windass: 'I haven't fallen out with Brown'

DEAN Windass says he's "sad" to have left Hull City, but claims he hasn't fallen out with Phil Brown.

Windass has joined League One promotion-chasers Oldham on-loan until the end of the season, with a view to earning a one-year contract for the 2009-10 season.

His departure from the KC Stadium came at the end of a week when a war of words broke out between the 39-year-old striker and the City boss through the media.

However, despite playing out his desire to move in public, Windass says he will always be grateful to Brown and former chairman Adam Pearson for bringing him back to his boyhood club.

"It is sad to walk away from Hull but I’ve given it as long as I could and it’s clear I’m not going to play for them in the Premier League" said Windass in his column in the Daily Mail.

"I've no problem with that, or with Phil Brown. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have had a second chance to play for the club I love and the opportunity to score a Wembley promotion goal.

"He was happy to take the gamble when he was offered the chance to sign me. I wanted to return to Hull before I retired and thankfully he and previous chairman Adam Pearson made it possible.

"Yet as much as Phil was good for me, I’d like to think I was pretty good for him and Hull, too.

"Having scored the goal which secured a first-ever promotion to the top flight in the Wembley play-off final, Windass will always be a fans' favourite.

He may have left under something of a cloud, but he hopes the club's fans will appreciate his efforts in black and amber.

He said: "City fans will remember the goal at Cardiff which kept us in the Championship two years ago.

"Phil will remember the push for the play-offs when my leg was nearly falling off and I was being patched up to play.

"I haven’t fallen out with Phil and I never would. We’ve had nothing to fall out about. He hasn’t picked me, he’s the manager and all I’ve wanted to do is play. He knows he’s right and I know I’m right.

"But I could have done a job in the Premier League and I don’t think I have had a fair crack at it."

In your Mail today: 12 pages on Deano's departure including special tribute supplement.