No Barry rush insists O'Neill
02 Sep 2008 - 15:28:26
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is in no rush to tie Gareth Barry down to a long-term contract.
The England midfielder now seems likely to remain at Villa Park despite being the subject of intense interest from Liverpool throughout the summer.
The former Villa skipper was expected to join the Merseyside club during the close season only for the two clubs to fail to reach agreement on a fee.
Barry has since returned to the Villa side despite revealing his desire to quit the Midlands club.
But although O'Neill is pleased to have kept hold of his former skipper, he is refusing to look too far down the line in terms of Barry's future at Villa Park.
"If Gareth stays with us for the foreseeable future I will be really delighted. It will be a really big bonus for us," he said.
"If Gareth is here this time next week, I will be relieved.
"I would have said only a few weeks ago that I was resigned to the fact Gareth would no longer be here - around about the time we played Reading in pre-season and when he didn't come with us to Malaga because I assumed everything would be done that week.
"But as for the future now, let's go one step at a time. That is what I would be looking at.
"I wouldn't want to be rushing anyone into making decisions or asking anyone to do something that no-one is really comfortable with."
Meanwhile, O'Neill has admitted he is still keen to strengthen his squad ahead of the transfer deadline following reports he wants to sign James Milner from Newcastle United.
"I will tell you that we are very keen to try to strengthen our side between now and transfer deadline day," he said.
"I am sure I could get one or two in anyway but it is just adding the sort of quality that I would want."