13.05.2010
O'Neill asked Villa chief to clarify future plans
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has asked owner Randy Lerner to give assurances that he remains commited to the club during talks over his future.
Recent reports have suggested O'Neill may be unhappy with the limited financial backing he has received from Lerner, but the American tycoon confirmed on Thursday that the former Celtic boss will not be leaving Villa Park after discussions between the pair.
Lerner had to make it clear to O'Neill that he is still focused and ambitious to try to take Villa to the next level after three successive top six finishes in the Premier League.
"He asked specifically, 'where are you at Randy? You've been at it four years, what is on your mind?'" Lerner said.
"He wanted to know that. We had that talk on a couple of occasions.
"I hope Villa can fulfil his ambitions. I know what his ambitions are. Those are something you live with. You know where that person wants to go."
Although O'Neill will remain at Villa, Lerner has told the manager that it will take more than just a big spending spree for the team to break into the Premier League's elite.
Villa, who lost the League Cup final to Manchester United and the FA Cup semi-final to Chelsea, have looked capable of snatching a top-four for the last two seasons only to fall short.
Lerner added: "The ambition and appetite to compete for the top four, qualify for Europe, is alive and as well as it has ever been.
"Exactly how to do that is a bit more of an open question than simply spend to get there.
"If that was simply the case, then the composition of the top four might be slightly different.
"Exactly what the path is, and whether it is as brutally raw as spending more to get there, is an open question in my mind but I don't really have a tidy answer.
"I think there are other strengths that yield the likelihood of getting there - like continuity of your manager, being able to target a player, bring him along and have him acknowledged as (PFA) Young Player of the Year like James Milner."
Source: © 2010 AFP - Ian Kington
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