Scunthorpe United talisman Callum Roberts has revealed why he turned down a move to National League side Gateshead in March, emphasising his desire to achieve promotion with the Iron.
Roberts, who previously spent time on loan at Gateshead as a youngster, insisted it was a straightforward decision to stay at Glanford Park.
“When the bid came in, I heard from my agent and I said that it makes absolutely no sense for me to leave now,” Roberts explained to BBC Radio Humberside.
“Why would I leave? I love playing here. We were top of the league at the time, we were flying, and it made no sense. Why would I walk away from a potential promotion to be at home for the sake of an extra five weeks?”
The 27-year-old winger, who has scored 20 goals and clocked up 11 assists in the National League North this season, clarified that his immediate priority was helping Scunthorpe’s promotion push.
Roberts continued. “Gateshead is a great club. I was on loan there when I was a young lad, but I said to my agent that I was never going to leave, no matter what was going to come in.”
Roberts further stated his intention to remain committed unless the club itself decided otherwise: “The only way I was going to go is if the club had accepted a bid and wanted me to go, but they didn’t, so it was never a conversation to be had.”
Looking ahead, Roberts acknowledges uncertainty around his future, with his current deal set to expire in the summer.
“Obviously it’s going to be different in a few weeks when I am out of contract. That will be up to the club whether we sit down and speak about it or not,” Roberts said. “I said to the club I am not in any rush to go anywhere. If you want me to go, that is a different conversation to be having, but the club didn’t want us to go and it was a no-brainer. I didn’t kick up a fuss or anything like that.”
Scunthorpe fans will be hoping the winger’s loyalty pays off and whilst automatic promotion remains a possibility heading into the final day, defeat at Kings Lynn on Good Friday means that the Iron are likely to have to settle for a place in the play-offs for the second successive campaign.
