Lerner: O’Neill staying at Villa

ASTON VILLA owner Randy Lerner insists his relationship with Martin O’Neill is as “close as ever” after revealing the Irishman will be remaining as manager for next season.

And Lerner is adamant there will be money to spend on new signings during the summer although Villa would not be able to bring in a £30 million player.

O’Neill’s future was constantly under discussion at the tail-end of last season after speculation that his relation with US multi-millionaire Lerner had deteriorated.

But Lerner could not have been more clear cut in his statement that O’Neill will be at the helm for a fifth successive season.

Lerner said: “I gave Martin assurances that I also wanted to take the team forward. I want to make it clear that Martin will be back next year managing.

“We feel very good about that as it represents continuity for the players and in many other ways.

“Let me say again, Martin O’Neill will be the manager next season. He has definitely agreed and I wasn’t worried that might change. In fact, I would say our working relationship is as close as ever – if not closer.”

Lerner admits a general ‘sell to buy’ policy will remain in place and the likes of Curtis Davies, Luke Young, Nigel Reo-Coker, Steve Sidwell, Nicky Shorey and Habib Beye will be available to leave if the price is right.

But that will not stop the owner of NFL side the Cleveland Browns making funds available to O’Neill over and above that policy.

Lerner said: “I gave Martin the assurance that I also wanted to take the team forward. A £30m striker would be out of our budget but there is money there to be spent.

“Is there a sell to buy policy? I think there is a sell to buy policy in every organisation.

“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 do that.”