RICHARD Dunne has revealed that he would have tried to quit Villa if Gerard Houllier had remained in charge this season.

Dunne has been given a new lease of life since Alex McLeish took over from Houllier in the claret and blue hot-seat to lead Villa into the new campaign.

But the experienced Irish defender admits he “probably would have left if Houllier stayed” this summer after well-publicised clashes with the former boss during last season.

Dunne has started this term in commanding form – with the Villa defence conceding just once in three Premier League and matches and one Carling Cup tie.

He has helped McLeish’s claret and blues keep clean sheets against Fulham and Wolves in the league and Hereford in the cup.

It is a far cry from last season when Villa’s creaking backline line let in 59 league goals, plus another in all other competitions.

And the 31-year-old centre-back puts his recent revival down to McLeish and the confidence the new manager has instilled in him and his fellow defenders.

Dunne’s standards slipped during Houllier’s regime as he and defensive partner James Collins were criticised for letting the club down on and off the field.

The duo were fined after a drunken incident on a team-bonding trip to a Leicestershire spa in March, while Dunne had several training ground disagreements with Houllier and assistant boss Gary McAllister.

However, the former Everton and Manchester City player insists the arrival of McLeish has given him a fresh chance to kickstart his claret and blue career and return to the form of his first season.