Dunne aims swipe at City

Defender told to leave Eastlands

Last updated: 3rd September 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Dunne aims swipe at City

Dunne: Forced out

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Aston Villa new boy Richard Dunne claims he was forced out of Manchester City.

Dunne finally completed his move to Villa Park on Wednesday after his switch from Eastlands was ratified by the Premier League.

The move ended Dunne's nine-year association with City and the Republic of Ireland international admits he was hurt at how the transfer was handled.

Dunne claims City told him to leave after bringing in Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott to bolster their defensive options this summer.

"I played right up to when I left, I was there all the time," Dunne told Sky Sports News.

Need the money

"They signed the players and that was it. I wasn't given the opportunity to stay and fight for my place. That's what was annoying.

"I was told I had to go and that's the frustrating part about it.

"They told me they had accepted an offer so I said 'OK, but what if I want to stay and fight for my place?'

"They said 'it's funny, we need the money'.

"I am not bitter, I really enjoyed my time there and wish them all the success.

"The fans have been fantastic to me there and they have been crying out for success for such a long time. Now they seem to be on the brink of it and I hope it all goes really well.

"It's a really good club, an enjoyable family club and I just hope they get what they deserve."

Top six

Dunne is looking forward to a new challenge at Villa and believes his new side can challenge for a place in the top six.

"It softens the blow moving to a side that have similar ambitions," Dunne said of his move to Villa.

"Villa don't have the financial backing that Man City have, but we have a squad as good as most in the league and I feel we have a squad good enough to challenge the top six in the table."

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