Brentford's most valuable player, centre-back Sam Sodje, reveals he might follow manager Martin Allen in leaving the club, because he won't settle for second best, writes Tony Flood.

News that the Bees will not increase their playing budget next season could also prevent them landing a big-name manager such as former Manchester City and Everton boss Joe Royle, who parted company with Ipswich last month.

Whoever comes Ian Holloway, Leroy Rossenior, Steve Perryman, Ray Lewington, Danny Wilson and Brian Little, the man Allen is due to replace at Tranmere, are possible candidates is unlikely to be able to keep Sodje or Ireland midfielder Jay Tabb.

Nigerian star Sodje said: "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.

"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."

The 25-year-old, who could command a £2million transfer fee after arriving at Griffin Park on a free from Margate two years ago, added: "With Jay 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, hopefully, I will be able to get that.

"But I am going on holiday for three weeks to America and Nigeria, where my sister is getting married. I want to forget about football for a while."

* Tabb was called up by the Republic of Ireland for his first senior international in the 1-0 friendly defeat by Chile at Lansdowne Road last Wednesday, but was an unused substitute.

The last Bees player to represent the full Ireland side was Seamus D'Arcy in 1953. Tabb was promoted after coming off the bench as the U21s beat Azerbaijan 3-0 in Kilkenny.

Source: The Richmond And Twickenham Tmes

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