'I was close' - Wolves favourite reveals he was denied Aston Villa transfer

The Republic of Ireland joined Wolves in the summer 0f 2009, but he has admitted he could have moved to the Midlands a year earlier

Kevin Doyle has revealed that he was close to joining Aston Villa, 12-months before he joined Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Republic of Ireland international burst onto the scene with the Royals, guiding them to promotion with a record 106 points, before an impressive first season in the top-flight.

However, in 2007/08 Reading were relegated and much of Steve Coppell's side were sold, including full-back Nicky Shorey, who signed for Villa for £3m.

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And Doyle has admitted that he could have followed Shorey to B6, with the Berskhire club turning down a number of bids for the striker.

"I was close to leaving - Reading had a couple of bids in for me and Nicky Shorey went at the time as well," Doyle told BerkshireLive.

"They put in an offer for me in the previous January and then at the end of the season too. They were spending a lot of money at the time and signing a lot of players but Reading decided to keep me and have another go in the Championship.

"At the time I was disappointed for a few days or so but once it was done it was done.

"I had only been in England two or three years and I felt I owed Reading a lot. They always looked after me contractually wise and I didn't feel like I needed to leave or should force a move.

"I was still happy to be a Reading player and I felt I owed Steve Coppell and the club. It wasn't an issue for me and I wasn't throwing my toys out the pram.”

After staying with Reading, Doyle netted 18 goals in the Championship, before they lost in the play-offs - and just one week later, his move away was finally agreed, when Wolves matched a clause in his contract.

He added: "I was waiting around to see what happened but Wolves matched by buy-out clause a week after the end of the season and I signed for them a week or two later.

"It all moved very quickly and I wasn't a Reading player any more."

He enjoyed a fast start to life at Molineux, winning the Players' Player of the Season Award, netting nine goals and being extensively linked with a move to Arsenal.

Doyle made almost 200 appearances for Wolves, before leaving for Colorado Rapid in MLS in 2015.