O’Leary keen on new Delaney deal

ASTON VILLA manager David O’Leary has recommended that the club take up the 12- month option on defender Mark Delaney’s contract.

Delaney has reluctantly resigned himself to a future away from the midlands club who have given him no indication they will meet the March 1 deadline to extend his stay.

That would mean the Welsh international would be entitled to leave on a free transfer in the summer.

But now O’Leary wants the 29-year-old to stay at Villa whom he joined from Cardiff seven years ago.

Delaney is expected to find out in the next 24 hours the extend of the knee injury which forced him to be substituted during Sunday’s FA Cup encounter with Manchester City at Villa Park.

He went for a scan on Monday to assess the damage.