Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill blasts proposed squad restrictions

Sep 29 2009 by Lisa Smith, Birmingham Post

Martin O’Neill may be blessed with a squad packed with enough English players to allow him to field one of the Premier League’s few all-England sides.

But fans may be surprised to learn that, when it comes to the new directives on home-grown talent, the Aston Villa manager is far from an advocate of the idea.

Premier League Chief Executive Sir Richard Scudamore stated recently that from 2010/11, the 20 top-flight clubs will be required to have eight home-grown players in a squad of 25.

Lisa Smith will be live for a Q&A with fans at 1pm on Thursday - www.birminghampost.net/live

Villa would be one of a few that could already meet those restrictions but O’Neill is not a fan.

Instead he sees the directive merely as an obstacle having seen how little benefit similar schemes had in the Scottish Premier League.