Source: Telegraph
Aston Villa deny rumours that manager Martin O'Neill has quit
Unconfirmed reports suggested the Aston Villa manager tendered his resignation after meeting with chairman Randy Lerner for talks understood to revolve around the transfer budget for next season. [LNB]Although there are legitimate grounds for concern regarding the relationship between owner and manager Lerner is thought to want to cut down the playing squad in addition to cutting the wage bill this summer, which runs counter to O'Neill's demands of a continued injection of funds Villa have denied the suggestion that O'Neill has left the club. [LNB]The confustion comes just days after Villa's devastating 7-1 defeat to Chelsea, which has left the Midlands club's chances of breaking into the top four looking decidedly slim. It was a result which O'Neill took full responsibility for. [LNB]He said: "The buck stops with me. It is my responsibility, it is as simple as that. Thankfully we don't have any midweek games now for a little while - but that would sound like the number of games we've played is an excuse. Please don't even go there - that was nothing to do with whether we had a midweek game or not. [LNB]"We've shown a lot more desire and a lot more character than we did against Chelsea and that is totally my responsibility. Whatever you say about performances and it is all very well talking about the players, that is down to me and that is my responsibility." [LNB]Villa must play Chelsea again in their FA Cup semi-final on April 10. [LNB]
