Wilson will link up with high-profile marquee signing Robbie Fowler in mid-June when his commitments with Scottish club Dunfermline Athletic come to a close.

But the Athletic captain revealed to Press Sport just how close he came to staying in his native Scotland.

"I just got a phone call and was asked if I would be interested in going," he revealed. "It was that out of the blue I never even thought about it.

"My first thoughts were I don't know if it's for me and to be honest I thought it had maybe come a year too early. At first I had knocked it back but I came back to it again.

"My missus wasn't up for it at the start either but both of us are really looking forward to it. It wasn't a football decision. I was probably wanting a wee change in direction in life in general.

"It's one of those ones, if I had knocked it back, then when I stopped playing I could have thought, 'Christ, I wish I had gone to Australia'.

"At least we're going to try it and if we come back after a year having not liked it then at least we gave it a try."

Speaking of his feeling when it came to his last game for Dunfermline, the Scot said it would be an emotional farewell.

He added: "I've been up there with Dunfermline and had great nights but I've also been rock bottom with the club and that's part and parcel of life at a smaller club. Success is hard to come by.

"Funnily enough, the time that sticks in my head was not finishing third or fourth in the league but it was winning at Tannadice to stay up (in 2004-05). It was just the feeling after the game and seeing Leish's face in the dressing room - he was so emotional.

"Last year was the pits to be honest, getting relegated and then struggling in the first division. I was quite happy off the pitch but I wasn't happy we were getting beat every Saturday. It was just a nightmare season."