New Alemannia Aachen striker Chris Iwelumo has revealed to skysports.com his reasons for turning down a new contract with former club Brighton & Hove Albion.
The former Stoke City hit-man completed his move to the German second division outfit on Tuesday - signing a two-year contract, with an option to extend it beyond that period.
The 26-year-old claimed his reason for rejecting a new contract with The Seagulls was that both sides could not agree on a relocation package for him and his wife to the South Coast.
"They offered me a two-year contract," Iwelumo told skysports.com. "It was a good contract, but the one thing that wasn't there was a relocation package.
"That was something I tried to get to change, but they (Brighton) were adamant in their ways.
"It was frustrating because everyone knew I loved it at Brighton and I wanted to become a Brighton player."
The marksman stated his displeasure at reports last week that claimed he had made unreasonable wage demands to the Withdean Stadium club.
He stated that the unavailability of manager Mark McGhee, who was in the United States, held up contract talks.
"Mark McGhee offered a contract and I rejected it straight away," Iwelumo added.
"Before I knew anything, Mark McGhee was in America for three-and-a-half weeks, with no one able to contact him, so it was annoying for me to be waiting for the phone to go.
"What came out in the papers last week was blown out of proportion, making me the character that I am not.
"I wasn't asking for silly money - I wouldn't with the (financial) condition football is in.
"That cut deep last week. It really, really got to me."
With his move to Alemannia complete, Iwelumo has been pleased with the way pre-season training has gone since he arrived at his new club.
"It's going well. We're still doing double sessions, so I'm trying to get used to that," he said.
"All the boys are tremendous and I feel at home. I joined up with them this week and they were at a training camp in Holland.
"I think it's the right move for me and my wife.
"The ambition at this club is to get to the first division and become and maintain ourselves as a Bundesliga One team."
Iwelumo revealed that he was in talks with several English clubs before deciding on his move to Germany.
"I was in talks with Doncaster," said Iwelumo. "Colchester, Stockport and Northampton were clubs I also spoke to while Milton Keynes just called me but nothing more."
The former Stoke City hit-man completed his move to the German second division outfit on Tuesday - signing a two-year contract, with an option to extend it beyond that period.
The 26-year-old claimed his reason for rejecting a new contract with The Seagulls was that both sides could not agree on a relocation package for him and his wife to the South Coast.
"They offered me a two-year contract," Iwelumo told skysports.com. "It was a good contract, but the one thing that wasn't there was a relocation package.
"That was something I tried to get to change, but they (Brighton) were adamant in their ways.
"It was frustrating because everyone knew I loved it at Brighton and I wanted to become a Brighton player."
The marksman stated his displeasure at reports last week that claimed he had made unreasonable wage demands to the Withdean Stadium club.
He stated that the unavailability of manager Mark McGhee, who was in the United States, held up contract talks.
"Mark McGhee offered a contract and I rejected it straight away," Iwelumo added.
"Before I knew anything, Mark McGhee was in America for three-and-a-half weeks, with no one able to contact him, so it was annoying for me to be waiting for the phone to go.
"What came out in the papers last week was blown out of proportion, making me the character that I am not.
"I wasn't asking for silly money - I wouldn't with the (financial) condition football is in.
"That cut deep last week. It really, really got to me."
With his move to Alemannia complete, Iwelumo has been pleased with the way pre-season training has gone since he arrived at his new club.
"It's going well. We're still doing double sessions, so I'm trying to get used to that," he said.
"All the boys are tremendous and I feel at home. I joined up with them this week and they were at a training camp in Holland.
"I think it's the right move for me and my wife.
"The ambition at this club is to get to the first division and become and maintain ourselves as a Bundesliga One team."
Iwelumo revealed that he was in talks with several English clubs before deciding on his move to Germany.
"I was in talks with Doncaster," said Iwelumo. "Colchester, Stockport and Northampton were clubs I also spoke to while Milton Keynes just called me but nothing more."
