Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce says there was no chance of keeping new Manchester City signing Roque Santa Cruz.

"I think from day one where I came here he made no bones of the fact he wanted to leave," Allardyce told Sky Sports.

"From the club's point of view and the position we were in it was very important that he didn't leave in January.

"He didn't play as much as we hoped anyway, but he did make a contribution into our difficult task in staying in the Premier League.

"We managed to do that sometimes with him, but a lot of the time without him."