Monday 31 October 2016 07:42, UK
Stiliyan Petrov told Goals on Sunday Aston Villa gave him no explanation for not offering him a contract in the summer.
The former Celtic midfielder joined Villa in 2006, but was forced to endure a long period out of the game after being diagnosed with acute leukaemia in 2012.
However, Petrov recovered from the cancer and made his first appearance back in a Villa shirt in July this year during a pre-season friendly with Austrian side GAK.
The 37-year-old had retained hopes of making a return to Villa, who were relegated to the Sky Bet Championship at the end of last season, but he revealed he was only offered a coaching role at the club instead.
"That was the most important thing for me, not to miss sessions, to get the stamina back, I had a chance," said Petrov, when explaining his efforts to force his way into then Villa manager Roberto Di Matteo's plans.
"I managed to do that. I thought then I'm on the right role, I'm getting closer, but they've told me that I won't get anything at the club as a player.
"They offered me a role as a coach in the youth system, I didn't want it. Not yet. I wanted to finish as a footballer. I didn't have a chance and I think I've lost my heart after that because I've put so much work in.
"I said before I was ready just to finish as a player. I didn't want a pay off, I didn't want to twist their hands about contracts or anything else. I just wanted to finish as a footballer because it was taken away from me.
Petrov added: "They didn't need to make that decision so early. They didn't give me a reason. If Di Matteo had turned round and said 'you know what, you're not good enough, you're not fit enough, you're too old', then I would have accepted it."
Petrov is still currently without a club, while Villa opted to sack Di Matteo after just 12 competitive games in charge, having only won once during that spell.
