Ligue 1 - Saint Etienne striker Bafetimbi Gomis has rocked the club's fans with the revelation that he wants to move away this summer.

Gomis, Les Verts' top scorer with 10 goals in 30 matches this season, follows Pascal Feindouno, Julien Sable and Zoumana Camara in voicing his discontent at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

"In my head, it is clear that I want to leave," he told L'Equipe. "Those in charge are well aware of this: we are discussing it. I have very interesting offers which make me feel wanted. One of these has given me financial and sporting guarantees.

"Now it is up to my agent to agree everything."

Gomis cited one incident in particular as having a profound effect upon his decision.

"There are things that I was not happy with at the end of the season with Saint-Etienne. To begin with there was the match against Marseille, when I was left on the bench.

"I did not understand that. I had produced all that effort for several months, I was the top scorer at the club, and I did not play in the match.

"The following week against Sochaux, I was not mentally ready to play any more. I was low."

Gomis, who has been with the club since 2001 except for a brief stay at Troyes, believes the problems at the club run deep - so the arrival of coach Laurent Roussey in place of Ivan Hasek will not change his mind.

"The coach is not the only person responsible [for decisions]. There is too much instability at the club. With St-Etienne there is something broken. And I do not believe that they would keep a player against his will.

"However Saint-Etienne remains the club where I spent my formative years, and one for which I have enormous respect."

The Senegalese added that he would like to play in the Premiership one day, but for now that dream is on hold.

"When I knew that English clubs were interested, I asked my agent to do whatever was necessary to secure a firm contract. It is a championship that has always attracted me.

"However I think that it would be wiser to join a large French club initially."

Saint-Etienne finished the season in 11th position.

Jonathan Symcox