Premiership: Cole 'would have loved' Villa move - Gregory

Aston Villa manager John Gregory claims he could have signed Andy Cole before he agreed to join Blackburn Rovers - but was prevented doing so by the club’s transfer policy.

Gregory confirmed his interest in luring Cole from Manchester United and said the player ‘‘would have loved’’ to join Villa.

But, in the same way as he had been frustrated in his attempts to sign Leicester City’s midfielder Muzzy Izzet, Gregory had to abandon his hopes of landing Cole's services.

Gregory has constantly stressed the need to strengthen his squad if they are to be considered as serious challengers for a Champions League spot.

The lack of depth has been exposed during a dismal run of one win in 10 games when the likes of Mustapha Hadji, Alpay, Mark Delaney and Hassan Kachloul have all been side-lined.

Gregory said: ‘‘People are aware of the transfer policy of our club, and so we were unable to pursue our interest in Andy Cole.

‘‘It was because we do have a policy at Aston Villa at the moment that I must sell before I can buy, although I think Andy would have loved to have come here.’’

Villa chairman Doug Ellis has been reluctant to loosen the purse strings even though Gregory has spent only a net £16m during his four-year reign.