Ghana defender Jonathan Mensah insists local players should not shoulder the blame for seeking greener pastures abroad.
The Evian strong centre-back believes the crave for these locals to be responsible for the welfare of their families have largely attributed to their exodus.
Local players have been accused of rushing for contracts abroad without taking time to mature on the domestic scene.
But the Ghana international, who is currently serving a four-month global ban, insists they have done no wrong.
“The league is not quite the same like it used to be, financially it is very tough for the players who are currently playing in the local league and they also want to be leaders in their families and be responsible and to be responsible is really tough,” he told Accra-based Kasapa FM
“I know what am talking about because I started this at a young age and thank God am still finding my way through it, I don’t blame them for wanting more income in foreign countries.
"I do not blame them at all but the league which has deteriorated.”
The mass exodus of players has robbed the local league of quality with constant claims of Premier League decline.
But with clubs suffocating under the harsh economic realities, the growing phenomenon may not subside anytime soon.