Aston villa’s mercurial owner Randy Lerner has come out and said that the club Manager Martin O’Neill is staying at the Birmingham club.
Rumour had been in circulation that the former Celtic coach Martin O’Neill was set to walk out on the club after expressing his unhappiness over the villain’s transfer policy.
Aston Villa had started the season I terrific form and had been in contention for the coveted 4th spot and an automatic champions league spot but saw their form fizzle out towards the end of the season and finished the season at a disappointing 6th in the league one above Liverpool and will have to be content with a Europa League appearance.
It had been villa’s dodgy form towards the end of the season that gave birth to rumours that O’Neill is set to leave the club at the end of the season but the owner has assured the fans that the veteran will be staying at the club.
"I think next year will be exciting and worthwhile and I look forward to it," said Lerner.
Also James Milner who has emerged as a top summer transfer for several big European clubs including Manchester United is said to be staying at the club.
"I am not worried about losing James Milner and I think he will play for Aston Villa," said Lerner.
Milner has had a terrific season for the club and was also named in Fabio Capello’s provisional squad that was announced yesterday and is more than likely to keep his place in the last 23 when the Italian announces his final team on June the 1st.
Milner is a priced asset at his club and the owner seems set to not let him go easily, Lerner was quoted as saying "I'm not dismissive of the realities of the situation whereby a player who has received the attention and acclaim of James Milner is going to spark discussion and debate about whether or not he will move. But I don't worry about him leaving because he is wanted at this club. We will do everything in our power to keep him."
The Aston villa manager met with the club owner earlier on Thursday to discuss his future at the club but the owner has reassured the man that he is the right man for the club and will be staying for yet another season at the club.
“Martin will be back next year managing," added Lerner.
"It has already been settled. He and I spoke on a number of occasions in person and over the phone. Yesterday [Tuesday] I dragged him out of a series of meetings with chief executive Paul Faulkner trying to get plans for the summer underway.
We feel very good about that because it represents continuity for the players and in many other ways."
O’Neill had said earlier in the week that his team needs strengthening and he will have to fork out some big bucks in the summer to bring in some fresh blood to his club and he has been assured by the owner that the funds will be made available to the manager.
"A £30m striker would be out of our budget but there is money there to be spent on the team.
I say that carefully in the context of knowing that the summer brings a very dynamic environment of players coming and going so I'm careful not to simply say 'here is a brand new amount of money, go and spend it'.
I would prefer to say our ambition remains to get better and we are not in some sort of mode where we are shutting the door on spending on players.
Is there a sell to buy policy? I think there is a sell to buy policy in every organization on the planet.
On the other hand if an opportunity arises and the net 'sell to buy' doesn't equal what is required to take advantage of an opportunity, then you may spend the money. I wouldn't exclude us from the group who would do that."
Learner was quoted as saying.
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