Jimmy Allan won't return to North Adelaide

TRIPLE Magarey Medallist Jimmy Allan has rejected a contract offer from his old club North Adelaide and is set to join an SANFL rival on his return to SA.

TRIPLE Magarey Medallist Jimmy Allan has rejected a contract offer from his old club North Adelaide and is set to join an SANFL rival on his return to SA.

Last month Allan confirmed he was coming back to Adelaide to work as a school teacher and spoke of his desire to rejoin the Roosters after spending this season in country Victoria.

"I wouldn't want to play for anyone else," Allan said of the club where he played for six seasons and won three Magarey Medals.

Allan and North Adelaide had discussions over the phone but it is understood the midfielder last week told the club he would pass on their contract offer.

Allan could not be contacted by The Advertiser yesterday but it is believed he could join Glenelg which has been aggressive in its off-season recruiting by snaring former AFL players Aaron Joseph and Sam Lonergan.

North Adelaide has remained tight lipped about the situation but is poised to release a statement on Allan's looming defection today.

The club had previously announced on its website that he would sign for 2014.

"James will add quality to our midfield area and his leadership skills will be an asset with our young playing list," North wrote on its website.

"We welcome James back to the Roosters and look forward to watching him perform as we all know he can."

North Adelaide's grand final side and in particular its forwardline has been hit hard by departures, the national draft and Crows/Power reserves sides with Lewis Johnston, Nathan Gordon and Daniel Stewart among tall forwards to have left Prospect.

But it has worked hard to replace them with Alan Obst (Central District), Luke Mitchell and Rhys O'Keefe (Carlton) and Jesse O'Brien (Brisbane) all signing for next year. O'Keefe and O'Brien are former juniors returning to the club.

Glenelg president Nick Chigwidden yesterday said Allan would be considered as a potential recruit. The Tigers were able to free up some salary cap space with the departure of former AFL midfielders Jason Davenport and Kane Tenace in the off-season.

"A player of his (Allan) quality I think most clubs would be interested in having a chat with," Chigwidden said.

"But at this stage there have been no offers or anything."