Milner wants me as manager: O'Leary

David O’Leary has revealed winger James Milner sought assurances about his future as Aston Villa manager as he looks to sign the Newcastle player on a permanent basis.

O’Leary gave Milner his debut at Leeds when manager as a 16-year-old and has worked again with the England Under-21 player at Villa during a season long loan from the Magpies.

Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder will not be rushed into deciding whether to allow Milner to move to Villa Park in a deal worth around £3m (€4.4m).

But the fact Milner wanted to assess whether O’Leary was remaining in the Villa hotseat – a situation confirmed this week by chairman Doug Ellis – is being seen as a positive sign for the midlands club.

O’Leary said: “The only assurance James asked was ‘how long am I going to be at Villa, how long is my contract?’ His agent also rang me and asked the same question.

“But it is not just me. He worked under (assistant manager) Roy Aitken at Leeds. Roy had him under his wing as a kid.

“His mum and dad know us. He said if he was to commit himself to a four year contract, he wanted assurances about us.

“I’ve said to him I’ve got two more years left here of my contract and I expect to be here for that two years. When his people were in there talking to the club, they got those assurances themselves.

“What they were checking with me was that I wasn’t going to go off my own bat. They were asking me if I had any plans elsewhere for myself.”

O’Leary added: “Everyone knows what I think about James and we hope a deal can be done but, as I have always said, the ball is in Newcastle’s court. He is their player.

“We have spoken to Newcastle and know the fee involved and hopefully we can get a deal done. James has told me he wants to come here. He wants to sign and we are keeping our fingers crossed.”