Former Birmingham City loanee Lyle Taylor has opened up on his regret at not extending his stay at St Andrew's, hailing the club's brilliant supporters.
A Fruitful Loan Spell in the Championship
The striker, now 35, enjoyed a successful temporary move to Blues in 2022, arriving from Nottingham Forest under then-manager Lee Bowyer. Taylor scored five crucial goals in just 14 Championship appearances, playing a key role in helping the club avoid relegation that season.
His impactful performances endeared him to the Birmingham faithful, creating a bond the player still values highly. However, the managerial landscape shifted at the end of that campaign, with Bowyer departing and John Eustace taking the helm.
The Premier League Dream That Faded
Taylor returned to his parent club, Nottingham Forest, for pre-season after their promotion to the Premier League. Despite believing he had performed well and was among the pre-season top scorers, he found himself outside of manager Steve Cooper's plans.
"I remember speaking to Steve Cooper pretty early on, it might even have been the first day, and he told me, 'Find yourself a new home'," Taylor revealed. Determined to prove himself, he attempted to force his way into contention but was ultimately left watching from the sidelines.
He made a direct plea to Cooper: "Just give me one appearance in the Premier League and I will walk away from this football club, not a problem'. And he didn't." As a result, Taylor did not make a single first-team appearance for Forest during the 2022/23 season.
Looking Back With Regret
In hindsight, Taylor admits he wishes his career had taken a different path. When asked if staying at Birmingham was ever a possibility, he said: "I don't know if it was ever an option. Looking back at it now, if I'd been given the opportunity to stay at Birmingham I would have loved to have stayed."
He fondly recalled his relationship with the fans, stating simply: "I got on really well with the fans. The fans were brilliant."
Following his time at Forest, Taylor's career trajectory moved down the leagues. He had two unsuccessful loan spells in League One during the 2023/24 season and featured for Colchester United in League Two last term. The striker is currently playing his football for Chelmsford City in the National League South.
Taylor's reflections highlight a pivotal 'what if' moment in his career, where the affinity built during a short but effective loan spell left a lasting impression, overshadowed by an unfulfilled Premier League ambition.
