O'Leary commits future to Villa

David O’Leary has set his sights on establishing Aston Villa as a force challenging for Europe on a regular basis after finally ending speculation about his future.

O’Leary will formally put pen to paper on a new three-and-a-half-year contract in the next 24 hours which will keep him at Villa until the summer of 2008.

The last remaining obstacle – his assistants Roy Aitken and Steve McGregor being given similar length contracts – appears to have been removed after they held talks with Villa chairman Doug Ellis on Wednesday.

O’Leary has transformed the fortunes of Villa in his 19 months at the helm after replacing Graham Taylor.

Villa at that stage had just escaped relegation by three points and O’Leary was ordered to slash his wage bill and cut his playing staff.

He now operates with one of the smallest squads in the Barclays Premiership but still managed to steer Villa to sixth spot last season and they are challenging again for a UEFA Cup spot in 2004-2005.

O’Leary told the Press Association: “Where would I like us to be after five years here? I’d like us to be challenging for a European place year in and year out and regarded as a top six club.

“I don’t mean one-offs like last season but to stay there year in and year out and to say that Aston Villa are a genuine top six side.”

But O’Leary is aware Villa will need to provide him with financial backing for players if such goals are to be realised and he wants to bring in a couple of quality players next month.

He said: “There are a lot of players gone and the club is stabilised. Now it’s where do you want to take things.

“It’s a case of where do you want to take it – but if you are going to try and take it on it’s going to require bringing in quality players.

“If we are to move this club on, we need quality players to come in here and without putting figures on it, if you are going to do that such players are going to cost money.

“I do feel there will be money there to try and start that process in January and maybe continue that process in the summer.”