Former Sunderland striker Darren Bent has claimed he almost signed for Newcastle United but decided against it because he couldn't be bothered to catch a flight to Tyneside.
The former England international, who netted 32 goals in 58 games for Sunderland, says he was offered a four-year deal by then-manager Alan Pardew - only to turn it down and join Fulham on loan.
Speaking on the All to Play for Podcast, he told presenters - with a clear sound of regret - about what happened.
"The one that grinds on me now is when I went to Fulham.
"I had left Villa and Paul Lambert said I could go on loan so I went to Fulham but I had spoken to Alan Pardew at Newcastle at the back end of the season before - so I was all set to go to Newcastle.
"Then Ian Holloway got involved at Palace, so I had those two offers on the table - permanent.
"Palace were pushing, pushing it - I got in the car and then Martin Jol who was at charge at Fulham was like 'what are you doing? Come to Fulham.'
"For some stupid reason and rather than go to... I think because I and my missus didn't want to go back up to Newcastle, I had played for Sunderland and it had ended badly when I left there mid-season.
"So to go back up there and play for Newcastle, if things didn't go well I've got both sides hating me.
"I went to Fulham on loan for year which didn't work when I could have signed four years at Newcastle.
"That was one of them decisions because I was sitting outside Motspur Park at the time, the training ground I thought ‘Well I can’t be bothered to jump on a plane to Newcastle or go across London to Palace, so I ended up just doing it and I think to myself it’s something I shouldn’t have done.”
