O'Neill quits as Villa boss

Disagreement over transfer activity reportedly forces boss to leave

Martin O'Neill has stunned Aston Villa by resigning as manager with immediate effect ahead of the new Premier League season.

Reports emerged earlier on Monday that the former Leicester and Celtic boss was set to quit Villa Park over frustration at the club's transfer policy and the expected sale of James Milner to Manchester City.
Villa have now confirmed the news of O'Neill's departure and revealed that Kevin MacDonald, reserve team manager, has assumed the role of caretaker boss ahead of the start of the new season against West Ham on Saturday.
O'Neill told Villa's official website: "I have enjoyed my time at Aston Villa immensely.
"It's obviously a wrench to be leaving such a magnificent club. I would like to pay tribute to the Villa players, my coaching staff and the Villa supporters for all the support and encouragement they have given both the club and me personally during my time as manager.

Upper echelons

"I wish them all the best for the future. I will obviously be assisting the club in the immediate short-term with regard to the handover of my duties."
Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Aston Villa, said: "The club would like to thank Martin for the great work he has done at Aston Villa over the past four years.
"He has helped to establish the club in the upper echelons of the Premier League, has taken us to Wembley and we have also qualified for European competition for the past three seasons under his management. We wish him the best in the future."
An additional statement from Villa read: "No further comment will be made by either Aston Villa or Martin O'Neill until further notice."
It was speculated at the end of last season that O'Neill was set to resign because Villa did not match his ambition to force a place into the top four of the Premier League.
The earlier sale of Gareth Barry to City and a reluctance from club owner Randy Lerner to finance new signings has also been rumoured to have played a part in O'Neill's decision.
O'Neill has transformed the fortunes of Villa since replacing David O'Leary during the summer of 2006, with three consecutive top-six finishes in the league and a place in February's League Cup final.