Bristol City first team coach John Pemberton has revealed that the club’s change in formation prompted the Robins to sell Luke Ayling to Leeds United in the summer.
The 25-year-old, whose side will travel to Ashton Gate for a Championship fixture on Tuesday night, will return to his former hunting ground for the first time since he joined the Whites on a three-year deal in August.
Ayling was a vital player for Bristol City when they deployed him as one of three centre-backs, but his role in the team was reduced once manager Lee Johnson decided to alter the Robins’ formation.
However, Pemberton insisted that Ayling, who plays as a right-back for the Yorkshire giants, is a good player, which can be seen by him moving to a club of Leeds’ stature.
“Luke was a fantastic fit for us when we played three centre-halves”, he was quoted as saying by the Yorkshire Evening Post.
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“It was probably best that he moved when we decided to change formation because the role changed.
“All of a sudden we wanted different things for different positions and Luke wasn’t quite a fit.
"But you can tell he’s a good player because he’s gone to a big club.”
Ayling, who joined Bristol City from Yeovil Town in 2014, has thus far made eight Championship appearances for Leeds.
