O’Leary warned he must be ‘whiter than white’

ASTON VILLA manager David O’Leary has been warned to be “whiter than white” in the ongoing furore that surrounds the club.

Villa are to conduct an inquiry into the circumstances regarding the release of a statement last Friday, presented as being from members of the first team and detailing concerns over alleged cost-cutting.

The three-man inquiry team, fronted by operations director Steve Stride, will understandably attempt to determine if O’Leary was involved. If it discovers the 48-year-old Irishman played any part, then it is likely Ellis will bring O’Leary’s three-year reign at Villa Park to an end.

Former Villa manager Ron Atkinson, who was in charge between 1991-94, believes O’Leary needs to be squeaky clean in the matter.

“It’s a weird and wonderful thing to be going into the season with this political background. But what David O’Leary has to be sure of is that he is whiter than white and has had no part of it. If he has then it puts him on the back foot.”

Another former Villa boss, John Gregory, feels O’Leary is living on borrowed time in any case as the club have been on the slide over the last two seasons.

“David’s stock has dropped in the last 12 to 18 months in particular as he has found it increasingly difficult to inspire Aston Villa,” commented Gregory, who held the reins between 1998-2002.

“Two or three years ago he would have had a lot of admirers in the Premiership, but after last season’s performances by his team, maybe there aren’t that many job offers out there for him. Had there been a good offer for him to go to, then I think he might have jumped ship by now.

“But he will continue to roll his sleeves up, although he goes into the season in a very difficult situation.”

Atkinson and Gregory both agree that while Ellis runs the club prudently, at present it appears staid and sterile, and in need of an injection of new blood.

While the players have requested a meeting with Ellis, who is on holiday in Majorca, that is certain to be put on hold until the inquiry concludes.

Appreciably the fans are exasperated at seeing their club dragged through the gutter, with the Aston Villa Supporters’ Trust again demanding Ellis be the one to step down.

“The last few days have seen Aston Villa descend into a shambles,” said Supporters’ Trust spokesperson Neil Heitzman.

“While players, manager and board bicker like children over who’s to blame, the suffering fans look on in despair. The trust has regularly called for the club to address declining season tickets sales, yet this farce will only stiffen the resolve of the thousands who have failed to renew.

“Whatever the outcome of the forthcoming enquiry, recent events clearly show that Aston Villa Football Club cannot move onwards until Doug Ellis resigns. We urge him to walk away now and allow new blood to retrieve us from the brink of disaster.”

To rub salt into Villa’s wounds at present, a Czech tabloid newspaper published photographs of striker Milan Baros getting drunk at the weekend, with one snap in particular showing a condom dangling from his ear.