Aston Villa dismiss speculation manager Martin O'Neill has quit

30 March 2010 15:29
Rumours: Villa Park chief O'Neill[LNB]Aston Villa sources have rubbished reports which claimed manager Martin O'Neill had quit the midlands club. [LNB]Radio and internet reports suggested O'Neill had decided to end his four-year reign at Villa Park following disagreements with club owner Randy Lerner over his transfer budget for next season. [LNB]O'Neill's odds to be the next Barclays Premier League manager to leave his post were slashed from 66-1 to 7-1. [LNB]Villa are unwilling to comment officially on reports which they are adamant are wide of the mark. [LNB]But sources close to the club are adamant the claims O'Neill has opted to leave are 'pure nonsense'. [LNB]O'Neill spent heavily last summer in bringing in the likes of James Milner (£12million), Stephen Warnock (£7m), Richard Dunne (£6m), Fabian Delph (£6m) James Collins (£5m) and Habib Beye (£3m). [LNB]He recouped £12m of this outlay from the sale of Gareth Barry to Manchester City. [LNB]But in January O'Neill admitted he had to adhere to a 'sell to buy' policy if he was to bring in new players during that transfer window. [LNB]And he did not add to his squad and sold midfielder Craig Gardner to local rivals Birmingham for £3m. [LNB]O'Neill has admitted Villa do not have the strength in depth of the established leading clubs in the top flight. [LNB]And his squad is now being stretched to the limit because of injuries to Dunne, John Carew, Emile Heskey, Gabriel Agbonlahor, James Milner and Stiliyan Petrov with several of them playing when not 100 per cent fit. [LNB] Big money: Barry (left) was sold to Manchester City last summer[LNB]There has also been no public response from Lerner as to how much money - if any - O'Neill will have to bolster his squad this summer. [LNB]But chances of obtaining a Champions League spot - and its financial riches - have floundered. [LNB]Villa are now seven points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham after the 7-1 loss at Chelsea on Saturday - their first league defeat of 2010. [LNB] You're on the plane, James! Capello all but confirms Milner for World CupStiliyan Petrov urges Aston Villa to move on from Chelsea horror showAncelotti hails Chelsea's plan of attack after Blues run riot against Aston Villa Chelsea 7 Aston Villa 1: Frankly, you're not having such a bad season...ASTON VILLA FC

Source: Daily_Mail