Kilkenny: I never wanted to leave Leeds

The Australian midfielder said he was “frustrated” at failing to agree a new deal to stay on at Elland Road.

Kilkenny will return to Leeds on Saturday with his new club Bristol City, having earlier rejected a contract offer from United.

His three-and-a-half year tenure at Elland Road was brought to an end in May after contractual talks broke down.

He said: “I didn’t want to leave and I made that clear so many times last season.

“I had three-and-a-half years with the club and I loved my time there.

“The way it all finished was really disappointing and I thought my performances over the whole of last season proved my worth.

“The club always got 100 per cent from me and I felt I’d earned a better offer than the one they gave me.

“Sometimes that’s how football works out but I want to make it clear that I wanted to stay, and in a way my hand was forced.”