So, why exactly did Martin O’Neil leave Aston Villa? asks Joe Redmond
There has been no official explanation from Martin O’Neil or Villa as to why he walked out so close to the new season.
When he parted company with The Villians he made a statement in which he described it as a ‘wrench’ to be leaving the club, but there were no clues as to why he walked out.
Last year O’Neil was unhappy when Gareth Barry was sold from under his nose, and when City showed interest in one of his players again this year O’Neil probably thought it was a case of dé ja vu.
O’Neil is understood to have been in a meeting with Villa chairman Randy Learner yesterday where he was told that the majority of the money from the Milner transfer would not be going back onto playing staff.
The fact that O’Neil would have another player sold against his will with Milner leaving for Manchester City – a transfer which the Transfer Tavern broke to you first – and the fact that he wouldn’t see a lot of the money was obviously too much for O’Neil.
It is likely that Villa have decided to re-coup some of their losses with the Milner money. In the four years of O’Neil’s management at Villa Park the club has spent £116.9M and made £34.6M from the sale of players – which is a net spend of £82.3M
Obviously spending £82.3M of the clubs money wasn’t enough for Mr O’Neil.
One things for certain – it will all come out in the wash over the next few days and weeks.
