Allen had offer to play on with the Swans but decided time was right to stop

JOE Allen has revealed he turned down the chance chance to carry on playing at Swansea City, and insists the time was right to call time on his professional career.

- TOM COLEMAN Football writer [e-mail]

Allen has decided to hang up his boots at the age of 35 and his last game is set to be Swansea's final-day clash with Oxford United today, which falls nearly 18 years to the day after he made his league debut for the club.

The midfielder is coming to the end of his current contract with the club, and this decision ends weeks of speculation around his future.

Boss Alan Sheehan, who recently signed a three-year contract after a successful interim spell, was keen on keeping the Wales international on board.

But Allen has since revealed he turned down the offer of carrying on at his boyhood club.

"It was discussed earlier on with Luke Williams," he said.

"I spoke to Sheehs (Alan Sheehan) and Richard (Montague) here. There was an opportunity to keep going but I came back at them with my decision.

"I explained my point of view and they've been great in how they accepted that."

Sheehan made little secret of the fact he felt Allen still had plenty to offer at Championship level, particularly after a string of impressive recent performances.

But after several recent injury concerns, Allen says he's no longer confident of reaching the heights of performance he feels are required.

"There has not been a big moment where something has happened that prompted the decision, in terms of 'that was the moment,'" he said. "Even going back to last year, there was no guarantee I was going to have the season I've had.

"I had a good idea then it was probably going to be my last season.