Ex-Arsenal chief David Dein broke down in tears over sacking and reveals he lost Ashley Cole to Chelsea over £5k a week

FORMER Arsenal chief David Dein has revealed that Emirates exit still haunts him.

Dein, 79, had his contract brutally terminated in April 2007 after 24 years of service.

But, he never received a valid explanation as to why his time in North London ended so suddenly.

In his new autobiography, Calling the Shots, Dein has admitted his axing felt like a personal bereavement.

He said: "I’m a glass half-full person. I want to be positive, I want to be the guy who puts a brick in the wall, who builds something.

"That was the worst I felt apart from when my mother, and my brother Arnold, died. I left with tears in my eyes.

"Brutal, yes, that’s how I’d describe it. It was a combination of fear and jealousy.

"I was fairly high-profile and I think the rest of the board were upset that I was trying to source outside investment, talking to Stan Kroenke about my shares.

"They wanted to keep it a closed shop. But I could see where the game was going."

Dein later revealed the Gunners struggled financially compared to the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle - which made it difficult to retain certain players, including Ashley Cole.

He added: "Arsene [Wenger] and I would come out of board meetings feeling we’d been knocking our heads against a brick wall.

"We lost Ashley Cole over £5,000 a week. It was a very difficult time."

Cole, 41, joined Arsenal in 1999 and won two Premier League titles with the Gunners.

He was also part of the club's famous "Invincibles" squad which went on a 49-game unbeaten run during the 2003-04 campaign.

But, he left to join London rivals Chelsea in 2006 after he was offered higher wages.

Cole would go on to win one Premier League, one Champions League, one Europa League and four FA Cup crowns, as well as one League Cup.