Aitken fires parting shot for Blues at Cahill

Feb 1 2008 By Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

GARY Cahill's decision to reject Blues in favour of Bolton Wanderers was the wrong move, according to Roy Aitken.

Blues still cannot quite fathom why Cahill decided on the Trotters after having a medical at St Andrew's and giving every indication he would sign from Villa in a £5million deal.

Whether he thinks he would have felt too much heat from crossing the divide, his former Villa coach Aitken shrugged.

"The manager tried very hard to get Gary into the club," said Aitken. "I'm disappointed. I thought this was the right place for Gary Cahill to come and play his football with a manager who played in the position he plays in.

"He would have learnt a lot from the manager. He knows the club, the fervour of the support in this area for Villa or Birmingham, but Gary has made his decision, good luck to him and we move on. Crossing the divide? I can't answer that one. I still believe this would have been the best move for him."