Rob Green opens up on Queens Park Rangers exile

Former England international goalkeeper Rob Green has spoken of his anguish at being frozen out at Queens Park Rangers over a clause in his contract.

The 36-year-old has not featured in a QPR's match-day squad since New Year's Day because he would trigger an extension of his current two-year deal if he plays 30 Championship matches.

Green, who has been at Loftus Road since 2012, was initially viewed as a central figure in the club's push for immediate promotion back to the Premier League this season.

However, the club's disappointing form over the first half of the campaign led to the dismissal of manager Chris Ramsey in November with QPR 13th in the Championship table.

Ramsey's replacement, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, informed Green that his 25th appearance of the campaign - on January 1 - would be his last for the club.

"With the clause in my contract that if I played up to 30 games, I would trigger another year in my contract and the club decided that wouldn't happen," Green said, speaking exclusively on Sky Sports Now.

"They wanted to give promotion a run at the start of the season and wanted to keep me with a view to that. Come Christmas it was fairly evident that was going to be beyond our reach.

"It was a disappointing moment for the club because we had really given it a go.

"Then Charlie (Austin) left in January. That was another decision they had made that they wanted to keep him and try and do as much as they could.

"From that point on, I have not played a game. It has been a frustrating time - one that took me a little while to get my head around."

Both QPR and Green were keen for him to leave the club in January but despite interest from several clubs in signing him, including Crystal Palace and West Ham, he was unable to secure a move away.

"The decision was made in January with a view to me hopefully getting a move in January," Green added.

"There were a couple of things that came about but they never came to fruition, which again was disappointing.

"But that is football and that is the way of the world. It is difficult in January because everyone has got their goalkeepers. Unless someone has had a bad injury or something like that, no one needs a goalkeeper in January."

He added: "Having a small break from playing games has perhaps reinvigorated me for a new season," Green said. "I know I am going into a summer break but I am feeling ready to go and wanting to play games.

"It has been a frustrating time but one where I have managed to spend time away from football and found life outside of it for the first time in 36 years. It has been positive in other ways."