Sporting Life SODJE TO LEAVE BEES
Brentford defender Sam Sodje is set to follow departing Bees manager Martin Allen out of the Griffin Park exit door after insisting he needs to play at the "highest level".
The 25-year-old centre-back was part of the Brentford side who suffered play-off heartache last season and the Bees' second failed promotion bid is set to prompt Sodje to go in search of a new challenge.
"Martin would not settle for second best and I am the same. Like Martin, my contract at Brentford has a year to go, but I think one or two clubs are interested in me and Brentford might welcome the fee I could fetch," Sodje told the Richmond & Twickenham Times.
"It will be up to Brentford, but I need to play at the highest level. If a club from a higher division wanted me I'd be interested, but I turned down a move to Southampton last season because I felt it wasn't right. I won't be moving just for the sake of it, but I am ambitious and want to further my career."
Sodje also revealed the break-up of the current Brentford squad, which has seen a host of players released and influential midfielder Jay Tabb placed on the transfer list, is a major driving force behind his decision to look for a new challenge.
"With Jay (Tabb) also wanting to go and several players being released, we are seeing the break-up of the team that came so close to promotion. We worked hard to get into the play-offs in the past two seasons and were so disappointed to go out in the semi-finals. I need a challenge and,