• Robinson: I do not see myself as No3 or 4 choice
• England will not replace Robinson in squad to face Hungary

The Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson has announced his retirement from international football after withdrawing from the England squad to face Hungary at Wembley on Wednesday.

“I’ve taken the decision to retire from international football with immediate effect,” the 30-year-old said in a statement today. “Only now have I been able to make this decision as previously I have not been in contention or selected for the squad.

“As a professional who wants every chance to play football, I do not see myself as No3 or 4 goalkeeper. I find that role very frustrating. I haven’t had the opportunity to be anything other than this in recent years. Therefore I feel it’s in the best interests of myself and my club, Blackburn Rovers, that I concentrate solely on my club football. I wish the England team every success.”

Robinson was included in the squad named by Fabio Capello last night, after being overlooked for this summer’s World Cup in South Africa, but he will not be replaced in the squad for Wednesday’s match.

Robinson won 41 caps for his country, making his debut against Australia in 2003, and he was first choice during qualifying for the 2006 World Cup and for the finals. But he lost his place after making some costly errors as England missed out on qualification for Euro 2008 under Steve McClaren.

His failure to collect a Gary Neville back pass resulted in an own goal in the 2-0 defeat in Croatia, and he could only palm a long-range shot into Roman Pavlyuchenko’s path to concede the winner in a 2-1 defeat against Russia. He was not selected for two years following those mistakes and was only recalled by Capello when David James was injured for the World Cup 2010 qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra.

Robinson had shown signs of rediscovering his best form after joining Rovers in July 2008, including saving two penalties in a shootout against Chelsea to help the Lancashire club reach the Carling Cup semi-finals. Blackburn’s manager Sam Allardyce called for Robinson to be named in England’s World Cup squad, but he missed out as James, Joe Hart and Robert Green were selected.

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• Blackburn’s advisers have been approached over deal
• Syed said to be prepared to invest £300m into the club

Blackburn Rovers who have long struggled to keep their heads above water in the Premier League are reported to be the subject of a £300m takeover bid by a Indian businessman.

Ahasan Ali Syed, the head of investment firm Western Gulf, which is based in Bahrain and Switzerland, has made an approach to the club’s advisers, Rothchilds, with a view to buying Rovers, clearing their debts and giving manager Sam Allardyce the funs to bring in new players.

Rothchilds has alerted the trustees of the late Jack Walker’s estate, who still have a huge influence on the club. Two years ago the estate made it clear it was no longer in a position to underwrite the club indefinitely. Walker, a life-long Rovers fan, bankrolled the club to the 1995 Premier League title under manager Kenny Dalglish.

Syed, 36, is the sole heir to the family business which has its origins in the East India Company. He was educated in London, is a qualified lawyer and owns racehorses in Bahrain.

He is understood to have singled out Blackburn because of their potential for growth. He wants a deal to be agreed this month and the sale completed in September.

Earlier this summer, another bid from India tabled a £25m bid, offering to tap into Blackburn’s large Asian population.

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