Luke Murphy made more than 100 appearances for Leeds United before joining Bolton Wanderers in the summer, but the midfielder has told the Bolton News that the club were right to move on in a new direction.
The 29-year-old was the early poster boy for United when the club looked to kick off under the ownership of GFH in 2013, but when Garry Monk arrived in West Yorkshire, he found minutes far harder to come by.
After his appearances began to dwindle and loans crept in, the club felt it was right to move on from Murphy, but he is settled again, now at Bolton, and is preparing to make his return to Elland Road on Saturday.
There will not be any hard feelings when he makes his expected start, though, as Murphy’s latest words on his time at United show nothing but respect for his former employers.
Speaking on signing his initial three-year deal, Murphy said: “I was buzzing as Leeds is a massive club, I knew it prior to joining, but it was only once I went there and spent time at the place, I realised just how big they were.
“It took me by surprise at first as I reckon you could go anywhere in the world and there would be Leeds fans. I was really happy to sign and have nothing but respect for them.”
That respect remains after wearing the Leeds shield on 111 occasions, even though we parted ways in the summer and have gone on to challenge for promotion under Marcelo Bielsa while the Trotters are fighting for survival.
“Absolutely,” Murphy noted when asked if the time was right to part ways. “The season prior to leaving, I went out on loan twice and with one year left on my contract, they were looking in other directions and looking to bring in people from abroad.
“We ended on good terms and it was fine as I had the chance to come to another big club in Bolton.”