Gareth Barry is a big loss says Aston Villa boss
Jun 19 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Post
Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill has spoken for the first time about the departure of Gareth Barry and accepted he needs to strengthen his squad simply to maintain their present position.
Villa supporters are anxious for a line to be drawn under Barry’s £12 million switch to Manchester City and equally O’Neill hopes his delayed response will be the final word on the issue.
The Villa manager was on holiday when Barry concluded a claret-and-blue career spanning more than a decade and 440 games by joining the wealthy Eastlands club earlier this month.
O’Neill yesterday ended his silence by expressing his sorrow at the exit of a long-serving and influential player, but also his relief that Villa avoided the disruption of last summer’s drawn out transfer saga.
“It would have been fantastic if Gareth had stayed,” said O’Neill, who was credited by Barry as aiding his return to not only the England squad, but also the first team under Fabio Capello.
“It happened early in the summer so we didn’t have the debacle we faced the previous season, but that wasn’t too important to me.
“It would just have been great if he had stayed on another year. I was disappointed to lose him.
