Robert Snodgrass reveals he was forced to quit West Ham because manager Slaven Bilic wouldn't play him in his 'right position'

  • Robert Snodgrass joined Championship club Aston Villa on loan last week
  • He made just eight starts since joining the Hammers for £10million in January
  • Snodgrass says he was concerned about Bilic's plans for him from his debut

Robert Snodgrass says he was forced to quit West Ham after manager Slaven Bilic refused to play him in his preferred position.

The Scotland winger joined Championship club Aston Villa on loan last week having made just eight starts since joining the Hammers in a £10million deal from Hull in January.

But Snodgrass says he was concerned about Bilic's plans for him as early as his debut.

Scottish winger Robert Snodgrass has revealed why he left West Ham for Aston Villa 

Scottish winger Robert Snodgrass has revealed why he left West Ham for Aston Villa 

Snodgrass (right) says Slaven Bilic (2nd right) refused to play him in his preferred position

Snodgrass (right) says Slaven Bilic (2nd right) refused to play him in his preferred position

'I was coming on against Manchester City and he said, "Where do you want to play, on the left or right?",' Snodgrass recalled.


'I thought, 'You've just signed me and I've played on the right or behind the striker at Hull City all season'.

'I found it very strange. That was my debut. And every time I played I was on the left. I don't know why he did it.

'I came in as (Dimitri) Payet had left and maybe it was a case of 'you can play there', but I'd only filled in on the left a couple of times. I'm not a left midfielder. I hate that position, I don't like it.

'It's fine to play for one or two games but you need to play in your right position, especially on the back of scoring nine goals for Hull.

'When I eventually did speak to him I said, 'You obviously signed me for that type of money and that you must have watched and seen that I wasn't a left midfielder'.

The 29-year-old joined Championship club Aston Villa on loan last week

The 29-year-old joined Championship club Aston Villa on loan last week

'His answer was basically that when people are confident they can play anywhere. That wasn't the case for me.'

Snodgrass added: 'There were a lot of different things involved. There was a lot of broken promises, a lot of dishonesty and I thought this is not what I am about.

'I know myself that when there is a manager who knows how to get the best out of you then it's different - and that's why I chose Villa. I wanted to work with Steve Bruce again.

'At West Ham, he (Bilic) wanted me to play cup games to try and impress but I said I'd done it at international level and Premier League and there was no way on earth I was staying to play cup games.

'I've got nothing to prove to anyone. I've scored nearly 100 goals in my career and done it with a smile on my face.

'He (Bilic) knew I was good about the place and great with all the lads. But I need to play games - it's as simple as that.'