Now the former Arsenal trainee has announced he has set his sights on a move away from the north-west as he seeks European football.

Bentley told Sky Sports News: "I made it clear to the club what I wanted to do.

"The situation is I want to move on. I want to be playing Champions League football, or in Europe.

"And the club's situation has changed over the last few weeks so I'm not really up on where they are at. They have got to sort out which manager is going to come in.

"I've been here for three years and I love the club and I love playing for them but I feel like I've done everything I can.

"I want to move on and try and push up the ladder and push on and try and be as successful as I can be in football and I believe that lies elsewhere.

"I want a new challenge. I believe I have done as much as I can at the club and want to push on somewhere else."

Bentley joined Rovers in January 2006 after the player failed to make a breakthrough at Arsenal.

He admitted he hoped he had repaid any debt, saying: "I owe so much to them and I hope I've repaid them with the way I've played.

"But I need to be pushing and moving on somewhere else so we'll see what the summer can bring and in this transfer window hopefully something can be sorted out."

Blackburn are currently looking for a new manager after Mark Hughes left for Manchester City but Bentley denied this had been a contributory factor in his decision to leave.

"I discussed things with the manager then and the chairman and I made it clear I wanted to move on," Bentley continued.

"Their situation has changed but mine hasn't. I need to be pushing on and moving on and that is what I am looking to do."