Ben Gordon admits he is disappointed Chelsea rejected Kilmarnock's request to extend his loan.
Full-back to return to Chelsea ahead of fresh loan move
Ben Gordon admits he is disappointed he will not finish the season at Kilmarnock after Chelsea rejected the SPL club's request for an extension.
The teenage full-back has impressed during the first half of the campaign at Rugby Park and Killie wanted to extend the deal.
However, Chelsea have turned down the offer as the Premier League club are keen for Gordon to play for a team nearer to London.
Gordon said: "I am sorry to be leaving. I wanted to stay until the end of the season but it is up to Chelsea and they wanted me to go back nearer to them and unfortunately that's the way it is.
"I have to go back to training at Chelsea for three or four days and then they will decide where I go next."
First class
Killie boss Mixu Paatelainen added: "Ben has been a very positive signing for us. I think he still has a little bit to go to challenge for Chelsea's first team, but he has been absolutely first class with us. We wish him all the best.
"We can't go and buy expensive players so getting a young prospect like Ben was great. I put it to Chelsea that it would be good for him to stay here, but there are quite a few clubs who want him down south so they want to see him loaned out in England.
"It would have been nice to have him for the season because he is a smashing lad.
"But I can understand Chelsea's point of view because they want to bring him closer to London to monitor his progress. Hopefully, we'll see him one day in the Chelsea first team."
