Morris: It`s not about money

JODY MORRIS has slammed suggestions that he is greedy, after finding himself without a club this summer.

The 24-year-old had looked set to join Blackburn Rovers, but, amidst suggestions that he was demanding a stellar wage, the move collapsed.

However, Morris has blasted suggestions that he is a mercenary, insisting that he simply wants first team football.

"Whoever I sign for it won't be based on money, but on football," Morris told The People.

"I've read I'm greedy this and greedy that and it's time I defended myself because that's absolute rubbish.

"I want to play football, pure and simple, but people just jump on the Jody Morris bandwagon whenever they hear my name.

"The reason I left Chelsea had nothing to do with money. They made me a very good offer to stay, but my mind was made up.

"I want to play week in, week out and I clearly wasn't in Claudio Ranieri's first choice line-up.

"I respect his decision and he respects mine. I'm 24 and haven't played regular football for seven years.

"Managers might think I'm a risk, but I would be more worried if people didn't want me because I was a bad player.

"I'm not naive. I have plenty of regrets. Some of the things off the field have affected my career and some people might think I am a bad lad.

"If everything you read about me was true, I would be inside by now.

"But let me tell you something - no-one trains harder or gets up for games more than me.

"I would change everything if I could. I know some people might be put off by my reputation but it's in the past and I want to look to the future.

"I'm sure a lot of people don't think too highly of me as a person but the only way I can change that is to get my head down and do the business on the pitch.

"But now I'm one of hundreds of players without a club and of course I worry about it.

"I don't know what the future holds. I'm in limbo."