The Sports Pages
No surprise as to what story is dominating the sports headlines this morning, after Martin O’Neill’s shock departure yesterday as Aston Villa manager after four years of service. This morning every newspaper is trying to figure out exactly what spurred the Northern Ireland boss to leave his post. O’Neill has managed five clubs in his career and has left of his own accord on each occasion.
According to The Sun, O’Neill was feeling the strain of the imminent loss of James Milner to Manchester City and had been informed that the €20-25m transfer fee would not be used to invest in players, as the club needed to balance their books. Relations were further soured as he discovered goalkeeper Brad Friedel and winger Ashley Young might be sold if deemed necessary by the club’s cash-strapped US owner Randy Lerner. Apparently this was the final tipping point in O’Neill’s decision.
In transfer news, O’Neill’s departure could quickly follow a move by Tottenham to sign Young. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has long admired the player and may pounce before the season begins as uncertainty at Villa Park reigns (Daily Mail).
In other Villa news, United States manager Bob Bradley is an early favourite to take over from Martin O’Neill (The Sun), though owner Lerner has identified Everton boss David Moyes as his ideal replacement (Daily Mail). Bradley has already revealed he would be open to joining the club, and yesterday said ‘coaching in Europe at some point is something that I would love to do.â€
