Right time for City & Doyle to part

Sheffield United look set to seal a deal for Michael Doyle this week which will end permanently the Irishman's long stay as a Coventry City player.

Aidy Boothroyd has made it clear he has no objection to Doyle leaving, with plenty of competition in the centre of the park at present, some promising youngsters coming through and the freeing up of the player's considerable wages making it an attractive deal to the Sky Blues.

It's fair to say that if Doyle had been the type of player who could push Coventry City towards the Premier League then he would have secured a move to the top-flight at some point over the last five years or so but despite the occasional rumour that has not been the case.

Again, given his contribution towards Leeds' promotion from League One last season, Simon Grayson would surely have pushed for a permanent deal if he felt that Doyle was the man to lead the charge out of the Championship this year.

That is to take nothing away from the midfielder's commitment to the Sky Blues cause over the course of 300 appearances for the club but Boothroyd knows that something extra is needed in the middle of the park if he is to take City up.

Doyle will galvanise Sheffield United over the remaining months of the season and play his part in keeping the Blades in the division but with his contract expiring in the summer this is the right move for both himself and the two clubs involved.

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