Championship giants Aston Villa were linked with a baffling move to bring Stephen Ireland back – but he joined Bolton Wanderers instead.
Aston Villa fans were left scratching their heads when reports back in June suggested that Stephen Ireland could be set for a baffling return to the Second City.
The Reading Chronicle claimed that the 32-year-old was under consideration not only from Reading but Aston Villa too after his miserable spell at Stoke City was brought to a merciful end after their relegation from the Premier League.
This was despite the fact that Ireland was a disaster during his first spell at Villa Park.
An £8 million signing from Manchester City in 2010, the gifted playmaker spent much of his time on the treatment table, starting a grand total of 38 games and never coming close to living up to lofty expectations.
In the end, one of the summer’s shock links failed to materialise into a transfer and Ireland ended up at Bolton Wanderers instead. But he failed to produce anything under Phil Parkinson to suggest that a return to Villa would have been anything other than a dreadful idea.
The injury-prone Ireland failed to make a single appearance in Bolton colours and has now been released according to the club’s official website. He will go down as one of the most forgettable signings in the club’s history.
So the Villa fans who clamoured against Ireland’s return on Twitter should be breathing a sigh of relief.
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