GLOUCESTER head coach Bryan Redpath revealed the club tried everything they could to persuade centre Anthony Allen to stay at the club.

Allen signed for Premiership champions Leicester Tigers last week after he reached the end of his contract at Kingsholm and decided not to renew it.

Worcester Warriors v Gloucester at Sixways, Worcester. Pic shows: Anthony Allen pic - Michael Smith / gloucestershire media / 23-3-09

Redpath said he had respect for the 22-year-old's decision to leave but reiterated that there was a contract offer on the table at Gloucester.

"Anthony did have an opportunity to stay and chose not to," Redpath said.

"What he was offered he did not want and he took what was offered to him at Leicester.

"He did have a chance to stay and he chose not to. He was out of contract and he came out of it quite well.

"I wish him well. He chose for financial reasons to go to another club and I have no qualms."

Southampton-born Allen joined Gloucester in 2005 from Millfield School and made his debut in the 34-6 win over Bristol in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in the same season.

After breaking into the senior team at the back end of 2005-6, he began the 2006-07 campaign well and forced himself into the England reckoning, picking up two caps against New Zealand and Argentina in the Autumn internationals.

However, he is yet to add to that tally and made a total of 91 appearances for Gloucester and scored 110 points from 22 tries.

Gloucester have now lost two players who wore the number 12 shirt last season, with Allen joining Olly Barkley out the door.

Next season they could field either new signings Eliota Fuimanono-Sapolu, Seru Rabeni or perhaps Mike Tindall at that inside centre slot.

Similarly to Ryan Lamb's departure, many thought former boss Dean Ryan had something to do with Allen's departure but Redpath said that was not the case.

"Everyone seems to think it was Dean who forced him out too, but he didn't," Redpath added. "He had an opportunity to stay and he chose to go to Leicester.

"I have no problem with that. I think he's an exceptional young talent. I would have loved him to stay but he chose not to and that's life.

"We've got to accept it and move on. I'm not looking back, I'm looking forward."