Stewart Downing has revealed that the arrival of manager Slaven Bilic played a big role in his decision to leave West Ham United.
The 31-year-old returned to boyhood club Middlesbrough earlier this month on a £5.5m deal after claiming that Bilic did not want to keep him at Upton Park.
Axed boss Sam Allardyce made way for his Croatian counterpart earlier in the summer, and Downing says that he may still be in East London if not for the change of management.
"The change of manager was a big factor," Downing told reporters. "If Sam had stayed, then I'm sure he'd have had a good sit down to try to persuade me to stay.
"After speaking to Slaven, I didn't get that feel of someone who really wanted me there. He said, 'I'd love you to stay', but I didn't get the feeling that I got when Sam signed me.
"With two years left, and no offer of a contract extension, the time was right to move."
Following the departure, Bilic claimed that he did want to keep the former Liverpool winger.
Shane Callaghan
