It did not take a rocket scientist to work out why Blackburn Rovers allowed their club captain to leave, on loan, in January.
With the team crying out for Championship experience, a player, who had more than 200 appearances in the division, went on to win promotion but with another team.
Lewis Travis was hundreds of miles away as the inquest began. Supporters, quite understandably, were taken back when he was pictured holding an Ipswich Town shirt six months ago.
Whilst Jon Dahl Tomasson insisted there was no ‘bust up’, nobody bought it. As revealed by The Lancashire Telegraph at the time, the reality was quite different. For the first time since returning to the club this summer, Travis has given his side of the story.
“I think it’s fair to say (the relationship broke down), it happens in football a lot. It is what it is, if a player isn’t wanted, you move on,” he said honestly.
“There were no major hard feelings but that’s why I left. I found it very unfair that he (JDT) and Gregg Broughton came out and said I wanted to leave because I wasn’t playing in the right position.
“I found that unfair. I’d have had more respect if they’d come and said…the gaffer didn’t put me in captain’s meetings, or in a central midfielder meeting even though there were Under-23s there.
“I think it was tough and hard to hear. They came out and said that but I wasn’t allowed to say anything.
Sometimes it’s difficult for me to pick up the phone and use Instagram or Twitter. It wouldn’t have looked good for the club or him if I had just sat there and provided a list.
“I had no desire to leave. I’ve had an amazing experience at this football team. To be honest, it hurt to see how they handled it at the time, claiming that I wanted to leave due of the role I performed.
“My desire to quit this club was never there. In a million years, never. Football is a violent sport, and I was there. But things turn out okay in the end.
Rovers struggled as Travis was caught up in a promotion race. The outcomes worsened and a month following Travis
“Everyone’s aim at the start of a season is to get promoted and that was very memorable,” he reflected.
“I don’t think I am coming back a better player, perhaps it looks like that because I’ve played out of position before.
“I wasn’t shocked that they went up. You have favourites when the season starts. Like this season, Burnley, Leeds, but they showed everyone it’s possible for a team below the favourites to show they were about.
“I think that was clear for everyone to see for a long period of time. It’s just me showing everyone that I’m still here and I want to be the main guy. I want to do well and I know what it means to be at this football club.
“It was tough, a lot of Ipswich’s games got moved to Friday/Sunday for Sky and so I was watching the games at home. I always tried to support the lads but it was very hard at the time.
“They’re not just my team-mates, they’re my close mates as well. We weren’t getting the results and so it was a tough watch, at times.”
John Eustace set his stall out very early with Travis. He returned for pre-season and was given the captain’s armband. He’s started every game, in the heart of midfield, this season.
Once the new regime had set their stall out, despite speculation, Travis insisted a summer move was never likely.
“It’s really good to be back at home, it’s great to be near my family and back here. I’ve made a fantastic connection with a lot of the boys and the staff here too,” he said.
“It was never really an option to leave this summer. When the gaffer said he wanted me to be a part of it. Teams, without being in conversation with me or my agent, probably thought they could get me on the cheap because of how last year played out.
“That happens in football. Teams contacted Blackburn but the gaffer wanted me here but there was no doubt in my mind I wanted to be here. Once I’d had those chats, there was no chance of me going anywhere else.
“He treats everyone with great respect when he speaks. Boys that are cut from the team understand why they were cut. It’s not always easy to locate a football manager who is a grounded, honest football club.
“He wishes the football team all the best. Some enter with the sole intention of benefiting oneself. The gaffer is clearly passionate about the football team.
“I love playing for this football club so to hear that he wanted me was all I wanted to hear.”
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