Jamie Allen, linked with Lincoln City earlier this summer, is training with Rochdale as he continues his search for a new club.
The 31-year-old became a free agent following the expiry of his Coventry City contract at the end of last season. Despite possessing extensive Championship experience, he remains without a club more than four months later.
Allen was linked with a move to Lincoln in May, when SportsBoom claimed the Imps were weighing up an approach for the midfielder. His experience appeared to fit City’s need for players familiar with the Championship, although no reliable follow-up emerged to suggest the interest developed beyond the initial report.
Speaking to CoventryLive, Allen admitted he had expected to find another club by now.
“I have been quite surprised myself, to be fair.
“I thought I would be in somewhere by now. Obviously I miss playing games at the weekend and am sat watching Soccer Saturday at home and it’s not a good feeling when you know you should be playing football.
“But I am keeping fit, training well and am ready to get going again, to find a new place of work and club I can call home.”
Allen has returned to Rochdale to maintain his fitness while waiting for an opportunity. The midfielder was born in the town and progressed through the club’s academy before making more than 150 senior appearances for Dale.
He was named Rochdale captain in 2015 and later moved to Burton Albion, spending a season in the Championship before helping the Brewers challenge in League One. Allen then joined Coventry in 2019 and went on to make 200 appearances across all competitions.
His return to Rochdale is currently only a training arrangement, rather than an indication that a permanent move is imminent.
“I am training with Rochdale. I know a lot of people there. It’s where I started my career so I am training there to keep fit at the minute.
“They have helped me a lot and I can’t thank them enough for letting me come in and just train with them.”
Allen also insisted he is physically ready to play despite not having featured competitively since last season.
“I feel good. Obviously I have not played any games but as far as training goes I feel really good and I feel like I could play minutes right now. So yeah, I am fit and available.”
The midfielder still believes he is capable of playing in the Championship, having accumulated more than 170 league appearances at that level. However, he is willing to consider dropping into League One if it gives him the opportunity to resume his career.
“It’s been a weird one, to be fair. I have never been in this situation before and I just want something sorted now.
“But I have got people working on it and hopefully they come through with something by the end of the month because it’s going to be near January before I know it and I don’t want it to drag on that far.”
City ultimately strengthened their midfield with Yunus Konak during the summer window, while there was never anything beyond the original report to indicate that an approach for Allen was made. His continued availability may attract interest from elsewhere, with clubs still able to sign free agents outside the transfer window.
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