West Brom hardman Paul Robinson claims he turned down a move to Wigan this summer, but did not hold talks with Sunderland boss Roy Keane.
Left-back Robinson was linked with a move to both the Black Cats and Latics - but was rumoured to have failed a medical at both clubs.
The 28-year-old says that is nonsense - and that he decided to stick with Tony Mowbray's troops as the 'time was not right to move on', with his family also settled in the Black Country.
"It was a tough decision because I love it here and my family are settled where we are. At the same time, it was Premiership football. These are the decisions you have to make in life.
"Considering leaving wasn't because I wasn't committed any more. Over the summer my head wasn't right because of all the stories that were coming out and things were said about me that upset me.
"I don't know where the Sunderland story came from but the Wigan one was true, I don't deny that, but again what was written about me was untrue.
"I went for a chat, end of story. My decision was simple - it wasn't the right time for me to move on. It was my decision to stay with Albion and the way the stories were twisted was ridiculous.
"For me to say this now will hopefully put a lot of people right and maybe they will respect me a little bit more for my decision."