Aston Villa Football Club News

• Nickname:The Villains
• Founded:1874
• Manager:Alex McLeish

• Ground:Villa Park
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O'Neill vows to keep Barry

09 Nov 2008 - 14:03:49

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Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has reiterated his intention to keep Gareth Barry at the club.

The England international midfielder was linked with an £18million switch to Liverpool in the summer only for Villa to eventually hang on to one of their key players.

Barry could buy out the remaining year of his contract for £2million next summer, but O'Neill is willing to take that risk.

"Cashing in on Gareth has never been a big concern - it certainly wasn't in the summer for the owner of this club," he told the Daily Star Sunday.

"If it had been, we'd have taken a cut-price for him then.

"I don't know if our success this season is having any effect on Gareth's future here. We'll take it through to the window and see what develops.

"I couldn't tell you for certain how he feels because I haven't spoken to him about it. But there is time enough to think about it after Christmas.

"He is playing very well and has bounced back from the disappointment of what went on in the summer."