Kightly: I’m so sad to leave Molineux

Michael Kightly this afternoon admitted being “genuinely gutted” to leave Wolves as he embarked on his career with Stoke.

The 26-year-old winger completed his £3m move to the Potteries yesterday after refusing a new deal, ending a near six-year Molineux stay.

Kightly’s departure has angered fans after he said at the end of last season that he loved the club and wanted to help the team back up, while Wolves stood by him through two years of injury torment.

But the former England Under-21 international wanted to leave on the best terms and hopes fans understand his reasons for wanting to remain in the Premier League.

“I’m genuinely gutted to be leaving Wolves where I’ve had so many good times,” said the winger.

“While I’m delighted to be staying in the Premier League, it was always going to be a really difficult decision to leave. Wolves gave me my opportunity at this level and I’ll always be indebted to them. I just felt I needed a fresh challenge and go down a different path.”

The former Grays man understands why fans are angry.

“I’ll be criticised by some fans and there is the opinion that the club stuck by me through my injury problems and now I’m leaving,” he added. “I understand those views, and I may never be able to change them, but I also hope fans would remember me as a player who gave absolutely everything I could for Wolves every time I wore the shirt.

“Yes, I haven’t played as much as I wanted, but I left everything I had out on the pitch and grew to love Wolves.

“But it’s a short career, and the opportunity that Stoke have offered me is one which may not have come along again and one I felt I just couldn’t turn down.

“I always had a great relationship with the fans, and I hope in time they’ll remember all the good things that happened at the club while I was there. I’d like to wish Wolves every success and I hope they can have a good season and get back to the Premier League.”

Kightly hopes he will be able to return as a fan. “I’ll be keeping in touch with people, and would like to come back and support Wolves if the fans will let me!” he said.