The future of Martin O'Neill and Aston Villa

Well, when the news broke on Monday evening that Martin O'Neill was leaving Villa, it took me completely me by surprise and I'm sure a majority of the footballing world as well. For a manager who took Villa from mid-table nobodies to Champions League contenders, it is certain this is going to be a huge blow to Aston Villa and there European drive in the coming season.

Firstly, a look at why this happened. It appears that the most likely story is that it was a contrast of interests between O'Neill and, current Aston Villa owner, Randy Lerner. Both had been, privately, at each others throats for months now with O'Neill keen to improve a squad that would struggle to fill the 25-man registration process whilst Lerner was more interested in the money and business side of things with the club, reportedly, in debt of at least £60million.....leaves me massively relieved with my small overdraft having just come out of Uni!

It appears as though Lerner granted O'Neill the money to spend on players last summer if he were to make the money back in the January transfer window. He bought in Stewart Downing from Middlesbrough for £12million, Habib Beye for a figure close to £3million from Newcastle, Fabian Delph for £8million from Leeds and Stephen Warnock for an unknown fee from Blackburn yet only recouped £12million from the sale of Gareth Barry and enough from the sales of Stuart Taylor and Zat Knight to cover the Habib Beye transfer. Therefore, Lerner felt it necessary for O'Neill to sell in January in order to recoup the money spent yet only bought in £3.5million from the sale of Craig Gardner. So, with O'Neill not bringing in the required money to balance the books, there was always going to be tension between both the manager and the owner.

Reports continued to circulate from February until the day O'Neill resigned about unrest behind the scenes yet both continued to deny said reports. Clearly, these reports did have some substance as O'Neill, as previously mentioned, resigned Monday (August 9th) evening. Rumour has it, he would only leave should James Milner and Ashley Young both be sold without his input in the situation. We all know the story surrounding Milner and his imminent transfer to Manchester City yet Ashley Young is a different matter altogether. Sky Sports is reporting today that Villa have offered him a new contract yet reports continue to state that Tottenham and Everton are going toe-to-toe for his signature and, with 18 days to go of the transfer window, this situation could be about to get very interesting.....unless Young signs said contract with Aston Villa.

As for the future of Aston Villa, the resignation of O'Neill a massive, MASSIVE blow to the fans and the players. Fans of Celtic, Leicester and Villa can re-enforce my opinion in that O'Neill is a top manager who deserves to work at a top club (no offence to fans of Celtic, Leicester and Villa) and maybe will get his chance in the future depending on what happens with other clubs on a national and international scale. As for now, Kevin MacDonald remains in charge of first team affairs for the upcoming match against West Ham due to the happiness of players with MacDonald himself. Yet the rumours of new managers will persist to do the rounds in the national media until a new manager is found with Sven Goran-Eriksson and, USA coach, Bob Bradley both apparent front runners for the job. In my opinion, Eriksson would do more harm than good to the club. My opinion of Bradley is be sparse at best as I don't know much on him just that he is USA coach and may be an ideal appointment due to the American link with the club.

My concluding thought is that Aston Villa have lost a great manager in the form of Martin O'Neill and I feel as though Randy Lerner should have given O'Neill the chance to properly shape a squad that was so close to breaking the top 4 stranglehold in 2009. I bet Liverpool regret hiring Hodgson so hastily now.

Will write again when I can.

Laters,

Macca