ALAN TROUTEN said he was devastated to find out Alloa wouldn’t be renewing his contract but insists he has no bad blood with the club.

Trouten has barely played for Alloa this season as a succession of injuries ravaged his playing time.

With less than 10 appearances and just one 90 minutes under his belt across the board, he admits the news he wouldn’t be offered a contract didn’t come as a surprise.

Speaking exclusively to Advertiser Sport, he said: “[I’m] absolutely gutted, I found out on Tuesday night.

“It wasn’t a surprise, I suspected it after my season with injuries, but it’s always hard to hear the words that you won’t be given a contract for the new season.

“It’s especially hard when you grow to love the place – four years and I’ve loved every minute of it.

“If it was my choice, I’d have finished my career at the club. [I’ve] made friends for life with some of the boys I’ve met over the years.

“Gutted, but expected.”

For now, Trouten will take the time to assess his options ahead of the new season, but insists he will leave Alloa with no bitterness towards the club or manager Brian Rice.

“I know how football works,” he said. “I don’t think I could expect a deal after being there for a year and featuring nine times and having one 90 minutes with injury after injury.

“I had a good chat with the gaffer and I wish the club nothing but success next season. There are no ill feelings between me and the manager or anybody at the club.

“As I say I know how football works and, after Covid, money’s tight.

“I feel as if, once I’m fit, I know I can play at the level. Unfortunately, my body hasn’t allowed me to perform.”

Despite not featuring much on the pitch, Trouten was a guest on commentary duties for the club on more than one occasion, and said that helped him during the times when he was feeling powerless to help the team.

He said: “I loved that. At times I was embarrassed to go into the dressing room [with] injury after injury.

“It was hard mentally as well as physically. Three times a week you’re going into a gym, four walls and yourself trying your best to get back and help the boys on the pitch.

“A lot of people don’t see that. You get comments like: ‘He’s injured again’ or ‘Are you Alan Trouten that used to play for Alloa?’.

“I was determined to get back. I didn’t quite get there because there was one too many injuries, but people don’t see that. Footballers don’t want to be injured, we want to play and we want to train.

“It was hard at times, especially when the boys were struggling on the pitch.

“Being involved [on the commentary duties] was a no-brainer, I enjoyed that side of it.”

The majority of Trouten’s time with Alloa was spent in the Championship and he feels the club are in a great position to make their return.

He continued: “That’s where the club belongs and I hope they get back there as soon as possible.

“Everyone can see the difference Brian Rice has made since he’s came in so hopefully they can kick on.

“It’s going to be a very tough league next season; it’s going to be very competitive, but with the nucleus of that squad and a few other players of quality they can be challenging [for promotion].”

Trouten has no shortage of fond memories from his time with the Wasps but insists it was the moments off the pitch he’ll cherish.

“My fondest memory is the dressing room,” he continued. “You couldn’t ask for a better group of boys, especially the first year or two I was there.

“Once I was in, they made me feel so welcome and hopefully I proved that I settled in quickly.

“The club spirit…the club look after you brilliantly. People like Pat [Dunne], Joyce [Cocking] and Tony [Hill], they are everything that a football club should have.

“Players leave but these people are here before the boys were there and they’ll be there after we leave.”

For Trouten, the aim is to make his mark on the pitch once again.

He said: “100 per cent I’ll be playing next season – hopefully, for another couple of seasons.

“I’ve been pretty unlucky with injuries but I’m trying to look on the positive season. I just want to get back to playing.

“I love playing football and that’s why it was so hard turning up on a Tuesday [and] Thursday and then a Saturday and you’re not being allowed to do what you love to do.

“Being put in front of what you love and your body isn’t letting you do it is hard. I just want to get back to it as soon as possible.”