Isaiah Osbourne: Why I left Walsall

The midfielder yesterday put pen to paper on a one-year deal at Forest Green Rovers where he has teamed up with fellow ex-Saddler Scott Laird.

Osbourne joined Walsall in 2015 after being snapped up by former boss Dean Smith.

But he failed to make a single appearance under Smith – with a serious knee injury keeping him sidelined for his entire first season with the club.

Osbourne battled his way back to full fitness to feature 30 times last season.

But he told Whitney he saw his future elsewhere at the end of the 2016/17 campaign.

And now, after turning down a contract offer from Port Vale, the former Villa man has opted to join Forest Green.

“(Scott Laird) pretty much told me a lot about the club and how they like to play football,” Osbourne said.

“He felt the style of football would suit me.

“The last few years I’ve been at a few clubs that have been playing the long ball which hasn’t suited me, to be honest.

“When I was at Walsall last year, the manager wanted to play a different style of football. The year before it was total football so it was hard to get used to.

“That is probably one of the main reasons why I chose to leave Walsall, because I wanted to play football.”

Osbourne’s words are likely to frustrate Whitney, who offered the midfielder a new deal following his injury woes in 2016.

Speaking in January this year, the boss said: “I was with him (Osbourne) through the injuries.

“I remember being in the hospital when he had a knee injury so serious it could threaten his career.

“We have been through thick and thin. I stuck with him in the summer. But Ozzy is a Championship player. He has got great energy and technically he is calm on the ball.”