It does seem the rumour from VT I posted on Monday led to the stories that Talksport and the Daily Mirror peddled on Tuesday.
I will accept some liabiltiy for the senationalist headline but boy I never thought it would lead to that maelstrom. In today’s pre match press conference this issue dominated for 90 mins and as reported on the OS MON is bemused at what happened
O’Neill said it was a “surreal” experience to see spurious messageboard gossip “grow arms and legs” and develop into a story picked up by the national media.
The fan site post suggested O’Neill had relinquished his post after an internal bust-up over transfer funds for next season.
The Villa boss insisted he was thoroughly enjoying working at Villa and even revealed the chairman had taken time out of his schedule to call him to ask if there was anything he could do to ward off untrue speculation.
He said: “I wasn’t aware of it until my press officer told me that these things had come from a story on a blog. Someone started them by saying ‘I don’t know how true this is’ yet surprisingly the media come in and don’t check the story through.
“I felt it was hardly worthy of dismissal because if you’re dismissing something it means there might be something there in the first place.
Now I know MON does not look on the internet but the club does so to make it clear I meant no malicious intent from the story, I just believe it was right to publish one of the rumours doing the rounds, blogs do that as a talking point. I made it clear it was a ‘friend of a friend story and not be took as serious but shows that there is some unrest.
Anyone reading my posts can see how much I support MON and in no way do I want him to leave Villa, that does not make him perfect of course but for me simply there is no one better. However I would like to apologise to Martin and the club for the hassle this week that this story caused, by irresponsible journalists picking up on it without checks an in the future. I will be more careful on how I post rumours which you find on all message boards.
Aston Villa News 24/7
You have got NOTHING to apologise about Dude…There is NO smoke without fire…MoN will walk by the end of the Month …. I hope it’s not after smallheath have done the dirty ….. I don’t think he will go to Newton Heath or Liverplop his tactics & transfer successes are far to few….
disagree Wazz
however got to say no one mentioned in the press conference the 7-1 ?
an the bolton game, did it work in MON’s favour ?
Listening to the press conference now mate and I think you need to pin your ears back dude, of course MoN talked about the 7-1 defeat to Chelsea
yes he did but the story is not of that at all tonight and that helps
The club as always had moles leaking things to the press..It was rife under Herbert and I would assume the same trouble makers are again at it stirring the shit and making the club appear to be in a state of disarray and heading for a showdown…But I am still of the opinion he will walk very soon…That is my opinion.
It’s probably herbert stoking the fire the interfering old fa*t……
thing is Wazz the club is very tight now, just really Randy, Paul Faulkner, Robin Russell and MON. From what I understand other staff are under strict orders to say nothing to the press
could simply be the press stirring, rumours on forums as I said have to be taken as a pinch of salt.
You are backtracking. Think you should hold council before writing such paper thin trurhs.
That is my opinion, learn sir
There is always a potential MONGATE story lurking at the moment ianrobo..like I said previously in other threads Old Beach Ball Head Fat Boy Alan Brazil who always has a 1980-81 dig at The Villa bought this subject up weeks ago about transfer money the massive losses and MON will walk if RL doesn’t come up with the £££’s in there millions…others then scaremonger and from one crass comment it steam rolls into a maelstrom of massive proportions…lets see how this weeks team selection appears with an eye on the game on Apr 10 just around the corner..will he play his bench who he obviously doesn’t rate or knacker out his best 11 again ? and on the Apr 10 game will we sell out our 31000 allocation ?
wazz, good point on Satruday and we have no idea from the conference today who is fit an who is not
as for the allocation my bet is we will just sell out
as for the money I am sure you read my analysis of the books, the wages are at dangerous levels as agaist revenue, the fact is we have to get some wages off our books before we can buy
actually most clubs are like that at the mo
prat! think b4 you speak
It’s all quite sad, what’s been going on lately, imo.
It’s almost like there’s a plot to oust MON and I’m with you Ian.
He isn’t perfect, but he’s pretty good and about the best we can expect.
While there are so many supposed Villa fans shouting to get rid of MON on the net, I really don’t think this is the general attitude of the fans who go to games.
My view is that all these critics are only doing the team/club down and should wait till the end of the season before spouting their bile.
And temporarily Bloggers should leave the negative shit aside.
We have enough enemies wanting us to fail, let alone our own so called fans, many of who are probably the local blue scum anyway.
your right Villan but this is something that has been talked about, the people article I referred to yesterday appeared 6 weeks ago, this is not new.
for me it is a legitimate debate but at the ground and I am sure on Saturday we will hear nothing but 100% support for MON and the team, wished i was going !
I agree it was legitimate and I don’t particularly blame you Ian fwiw.
But the original post on VT could have been started by anyone.
I just think we generally have to be a bit careful now, as it seems any threat to the beloved Pool and the Spuds is meat and veg to the press.
Welcome to the big boys game Aston Villa, is how I see it and it’s just indicative of our position recently.
Our boo boys don’t help the cause though
yep can’t disagree at all but would not have been helped by MON by mentioning the fans though I agree with it
The whole thing has hopefully now been totally refuted with an extra statement from MON on SS;
In his statement, O’Neill said: “In light of ongoing and perplexing reports – despite my efforts to bring clarity to the situation earlier today – I would like to reiterate one or two points which, to me, are essential.
“Every summer, since taking this job at Aston Villa in August 2006, I have sat down and discussed the season in general with my chairman, Randy Lerner, attempting also to formulate plans for how we hope to keep improving the club year on year.
“This summer will be no different.”
As regards his future, O’Neill said: “I have a yearly rolling contract and I hope to continue to do a job, the challenges of which I enjoy immensely.”
Let this be an end to it, imo.
For clarity, the very last line was mine
My son text me this morning and said he had resigned I fell for it (I will kill him) my thoughts before I remembered the date: Why? if there is a problem why not wait till the end of the season surely you dont leave before a FA Cup Semi and who knows with the top 4.
Just a thought, Lerners AFL team had a disastrous season he head hunted a much sort after top man who makes sweeping changes to the whole organisation, and these sackings and appointments on that scale, in that sport dont come cheap, perhaps this has a knock on effect on MON budget and transfer policy
Ianrobo,
1. You didn’t start the rumour.
2. Compared to some other blogs yours is always positive and written like a true supporter – some of those villablogs out there are ridiculously negative, whiney and frankly depressing.
3. Its always been the case that the informal rumour mill (gossip) has existed its just the speed and size of it now because of the easy access to technology. Still I suppose its better than getting into fights at the pub over runours because we’ve downed too many jars!
4. Keep up the great work with old (and new) photos, etc. Its a great feature and something the other blogs don’t do….10/10…
I was in the UK in October and got to VP to watch Villa BEAT Chelsea. A great day out! Back in Oz I remember seeing the photos that had been posted on here of the snow at VP and it was amazing that I’d been there in unseasonal relative warmth only a few weeks before. Seriously keep the photos/old articles/ etc coming and I’ll be a happy villan! Take a bow…
Whats not been highlighted is that this whole sorry episode did start from the original VT post but that bloated buffoon Ian Abrahams (The Moose) on Talksport is the one who aired it as a ‘source’ and thats what blew it all up on Tuesday
thanks steve and there might be some more photo’s in the next couple of days !
You right Dennis Talksport tried to gazump the Mirror and totally failed.
What great fans…Jesus.
You lot don’t deserve O’Neill.
He’s taken you to the brink of Championship League, One final, possibly another in the FA Cup.
And you know whats funny you lot would have happily joioned in the attacks on Newcastle fans over Sir Bob Robson, even though they had nothing to do with his sacking (which SBR said umpteen times but the rags kept ignoring it)
I just wonder – would Villa fans respond to the crap we had to put up with by averaging 44,000 in the Championship ?
Like hell they would.
Newcastle fans deserve an honest dealer like O’Neill – Villa fans deserve the likes of Souness, Roeder, and Joe Kinnear.
So – will you be whingeing when you’re going to second semi-final of the season, and wondering if you’ll be going to any of the european games next year, while telling each other how crap and “arrogant” and “faithless” Newcastle fans are/were (brainwashed by the Newcastle-hating rags, repeating word for word what they print ! Yeah – I was there last day of season) while attacking your saviour ?
Hypocrites or just WAAAAAAYYY beyond mere hypocrites ?