Tuesday, February 9, 2010
The full Gareth Barry letter – Uncut
Expressandstar.com brings you ‘the’ letter – departed skipper Gareth Barry opening his heart to Villa fans explaining the reasons behind his decision to join Manchester City.
The letter was released to us by Aston Villa.
After all the speculation over the last 12 months, I want the chance to explain my decision to the Villa fans.
Firstly I want to thank them for the incredible support I have received over the last 12 years, this football club has been a huge part of my life, I joined as a 16-year-old boy and now I am moving on as a 28-year-old man with a wife and two children.
A lot of things have changed in that time, players, management and a chairman – but every season bar none, whether we have been bottom half, mid table or challenging for Europe, the support myself and the team have received has been fantastic.
My one huge regret is that during my time at this club we have not brought the fans the success they deserve. I obviously have to take my share of responsibility that we have not been good enough to win trophies.
I feel the club is in the best position it has been in during my time here, I think we have a group of very good young players, we have a fantastic chairman who is here for the good of the club and one of the best managers in the game.
Obviously people will ask why I am leaving if I feel like that.
I have honestly been very undecided what to do, the manager and the whole club have bent over backwards to try and persuade me to stay and made me a fantastic offer which I am extremely grateful for.
But, after changing my mind lots of times, I came to the decision that the time was right for me and for the club to part company. I need a new challenge, I have a massive fear of going stale and falling into a comfort zone.
I believe the deal is a good one for the club, I am sure the manager will use the money well to strengthen the team and the club will go from strength to strength.
I am also excited now about my new challenge, a lot of people will question my decision to join Manchester City, but they were the club prepared to meet the valuation, which for a 28-year-old with a year left on his contract I think shows how much they wanted me.
Once I had spoke to Mark Hughes there was nowhere else I wanted to go, I was also desperate to avoid any long drawn out saga.
I feel I am joining a club that will seriously challenge to win major honours. People might doubt that, but I am convinced with the plans the club has short term and long term.
The backing the manager will receive from the owners tells me that we will be a major force.
Also the World Cup next year has always been a major part of my thinking. I feel at Manchester City I will get the chance to play regularly in my best position and play a big part in a successful side.
Time will tell if I am right or not, but those are my reasons.
I have grown bored of all the speculation surrounding me over the last 12 months and I am sure all the fans have as well, I am glad I never left last summer because I would have left under a huge cloud.
This year I feel things are different, I haven’t used an agent. I have discussed things with my best friend (agent Michael Standing) but ultimately made my own choices.
I believe the situation has been handled properly by everybody involved. Once again I have to thank the manager and the club for that.
I genuinely wish the club all the best for the future and want to thank everyone who has helped and supported me in my time here.
For the rest of my life Aston Villa will be the first result I look for.
Thanks for everything.
Gareth Barry.
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Not a Villa fan myself.. but I think it shows great respect to the fans that he wrote such a letter. Many of you will question his reasons, but seriously, how many people stay with 1 club/company throughout their 20’s.. he wants a challenge!
Good luck, except when playing the Wolves!
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“I haven’t used an agent. I have discussed things with my best friend (agent Michael Standing)”
CLASSIC!!!!!
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To be honest how many footballers are capable of writing a letter? That’s the real reasonwhy Bully never left Wolves. Everytime he said he wanted to leave the club asked for a written transfer request.
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Fair play and all the best gareth!!!
apart from twice a season i hope the move works out well for you!!
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Barry seems a decent sort who has at least had the bottle to disclose his reasons and the decency to write such an open-letter. He clearly loves the Villa and always will, but will definately be a big asset to City next season.
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I’m impressed that a football player has actually done this and shown a lot of respect, fairplay to him
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Lets face it, the Premiership has changed top flight football into a millionaires playground. Barry already a millionaire is now seeking to add to his huge purse.
Premiership football has bred greedy young men like Barry and killed the honesty and togetherness fans and teams used to show and support before this over paided, over rated nest of selfishness was invented 10-15 years ago.
It is an explicit example of greed in a game for working class people exploited by international uneducated athletes and agents, who don’t even know how to spend their wealth.
Meanwhile we’ll all break our backs in a resscession and have this wealth rubbed all over our faces.
Disgusting.
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He did not write this letter. It was so obvious. He had an agent or a PR group right this.
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Lets face it, the Premiership has changed top flight football into a millionaires playground. Barry already a millionaire is now seeking to add to his huge purse.
Premiership football has bred greedy young men like Barry and killed the honesty and togetherness fans and teams used to show and support before this over paided, over rated nest of selfishness was invented 10-15 years ago.
It is an explicit example of greed in a game for working class people, exploited by uneducated athletes and agents, who don’t even know how to spend their wealth.
Meanwhile we’ll all break our backs in a resscession and have this wealth rubbed all over our faces.
Disgusting.
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If Wayne Rooney had gone and shown with half of the respect that Gareth Barry has there then there would be a lot less resentment shown towards him. I empathise with how Villa fans must feel, but Gareth Barry has shown real class in that letter.
If the rumours are to be believed it will be interesting to see what happens when City put a similar deal in front of Everton and Jolyen Lescott!
A player who has been at Everton a quarter of the time that Gareth Barry has been at Villa, but held in as high a regard by the fans, I know Wolves fans will agree in the comparison of loss.
This is the world we are in now, and City are actually only doing what Everton , Villa and everyone else are doing…They are buying the better players from other clubs, its just City are buying the better players from the clubs above them!
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People need to remember his statement last year that tried to engineer a move to Liverpool. That showed the real Barry
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12 years for Nothing, MONEY Talked and you went, so much for personal ambition
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Judas!
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ALL THE BEST GARETH
Some idiots have no concept of the real world so will slag you off. For me, ANY player how gives a single club over ten years of service deserves a massive pat on the back wherever they go. You always gave your all for the Villa cause, and i thank you for taking the effort to pen a letter. I can’t think of any other so called Villa great who’s left in my lifetime doing the same. Some will call it just words, but they’re the same morons who’ll no doubt boo you on your return.
Those of us who have grown up and appreciate a great footballer when we see one will always remember.
Cheers! Andy
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Good luck Gareth!
My favourite Villa player for the last decade, always 100% and always a true gent ofF the pitch. Wish you well mate (unless you’re playing against us of course!)
AJ
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It was so obvious he didnt write this letter?? How the hell did you work that out, received many letters from Barry have you?? To be honest i think most Villa fans are mature enough to agree that hes put in a good stint in for you.
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7&9. You must be really old.. bless.. well done for learning to use a computer!
Its a greedy world.. who can blame someone who’s career ends at mid 30’s for wanting to support as good a life as possible for his family/children.. Who here wouldn’t accept a job working for another company if they were willing to pay you double?
He has been loyal, but at 28 can you really blame him?
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Absolute rubbish . He’s back stabbed every one , and is trying to cover it up !
Best of Arab mate .
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Fair play to him. He served the Villa well for 12 years and has always been a class act for them. His reasons for joining City (regular 1st team football in an improving squad) are just, and although he may not be playin in Europe next season, I’m pretty sure they will be the year after. I think Arsenal will have a lot of competition for 4th spot next season.
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Villal Fans = Hypocrites.
From memory, didnt you nick this kid from Brighton – who then had all sorts of financial troubles.
GOod for Gareth – Villa have not met his ambitions, and for 80k a week id leave a club that would screw Brighton at the drop of a hat too.
Up the WOlves.
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I think that was very honest of Gareth, He was my favorite Villa player but I understand his reasons. I also understand him accepting a high wage, everyone likes a bit more money, dont matter how much you already have. I just think its a bit worrying to think he doesnt seem to suggest we(Villa) will be moving forward next season! I will always be a Barry fan, any Villa fan who slags him off is mad, 12 years of great service to Villa. Will we ever pick up a player like that for next to nothing again?? He was increddible value and sold at a decent price considering his contract only having a year left! Up the Villa and good luck Gareth, Villa Legend!
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17, Just quickly, im 34 and im not a member of the ‘im alright Jack’ society in which you lord.
If you are a millionaire then I can understand you proping it up, however it still doesn’t justify this obscene wealth for a simple sport.
Isn’t being a millionaire already enough to support his family for now and the future?? Will his children aspire to nothing and depend on him forever??
Its greed, plain and easy, a little like your comments.
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A Bit of re-editing is needed here…
My one huge regret is that during my time at this club we have not…been good enough to win trophies.
I feel the club is in the best position IT IS GOING TO REACH, I think we have a group of very good young players WHO AREN’T QUITE GOOD ENOUGH, we have a fantastic chairman who is NOT AS RICH AS MAN CITY’S CHAIRMAN and one of the best managers in the game (HONESTLY).
Obviously people will ask why I am leaving if I feel like that.
I have honestly been very undecided what to do, the manager and the whole club have bent over backwards to try and persuade me to stay and made me a fantastic offer which I am extremely grateful for.
But I came to the decision that the time was right for me TO GET OUT OF THERE SHARPISH. I need a new challenge, I have a massive fear THAT VILLA IS going stale and falling into a comfort zone OUTSIDE THE TOP 4.
I believe the deal is a good one for ME, I am sure the manager will NEED TO use the money well to strengthen the team and the club will MEANDER IN ABOUT 8TH PLACE.
I am also excited now about my new challenge, a lot of people will question my decision to join Manchester City, but they were the club prepared to meet MY WAGE DEMANDS, which for a 28-year-old with a year left on his contract I think shows how much I NEEDED TO SORT IT.
Once I had spoke to Mark Hughes there was nowhere else I wanted to go, I was also desperate to avoid any long drawn out saga.
I feel I am joining a club that, UNLIKE VILLA, will seriously challenge to win major honours. People might doubt that, but I am convinced with the plans the club has short term and long term.
The backing the manager will receive from the owners tells me that we (YES, WE) will be a major force.
Also the World Cup next year has always been a major part of my thinking. I feel at Manchester City I will get the chance to play regularly in my best position and play a big part in a successful side.
Time will tell if I am right or not, but those are my reasons.
I have grown bored of all the speculation surrounding me over the last 12 months and I am sure all the fans have as well, I am glad I never left last summer because I would have left under a huge cloud.
This year I feel things are different, I haven’t used an agent, MAN CITY ARE JUST THROWING MONEY AROUND SO I DON’T NEED ONE. I have discussed things with my best friend (agent Michael Standing) but ultimately made my own choices.
I believe the situation has been handled properly by everybody involved. Once again I have to thank the manager and the club for that.
I genuinely wish the club all the best for the future and want to thank everyone who has helped and supported me in my time here.
For the rest of my life Aston Villa will be the first result I look for.
Thanks for everything SUCKERS.
Gareth Barry.
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22. That depends on his parenting skills doesn’t it? I just don’t believe there is good enough reason for anyone to call Barry greedy.. its an easy thing to say, and anyone who questions his loyalty should look for the last guy who spent 12 years at 1 club without winning anything, and ask if he has any regrets?
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I cannot beleive the attidue of some of the villa fans on here. Barry stayed with Villa for 12 years and now he has left for what is in his mind better things (whether it is or not I dont really care).
Whether or not he wrote the letter or got a Pr company to do it makes no difference he did not have to put a letter out.
He is a paid footballer and has moved for more money if someone where to offer you an extra 15k a week would you not go.
Players and managers come and go it always has been and always will be get over it!!!!
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I’ve just written my blog for tomorrow morning on here. My main point is how he was actually quoted as saying all he wanted was CL football, and if it was with Villa then there is no desire to leave. Then he signs for Man City?
This is a dangerous move for him, as I feel by the time they do break the top 4, GB will be just a distant memory.
However….I am appreciative of what he has given us, and he will receive a warm welcome back at Villa Park next season.
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Lets face it when you get offered 90k a week you cannot really say no!
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Good on ya Gareth son. Loadsamoney!!! Do have a word with Mr. Hughes and put a good ‘un in for me will ya, can’t stand this pittence i’m on here, hope to be with you soon – if not might have to go on strike again ;-)
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Good Luck Gareth you have been a great player for Aston Villa.
The cowboy has not backed up his words with action
You had no choice with our 5yr plan now being a 50yr plan
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All the peoples know you are not fit to… how you say… lace my boots, Senor Barry.
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In some ways you can’t blame him, he has no chance of playing champions league football at Villa coupled with the fact that in 3 seasons time, he will be considered as past his best. Also, the salary he’ll be getting dwarfs what Villa offered so all things considered, he’s made the right choice.
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im glad hes gone, the best he ever did 4 us was get us 6th a few times! 12 million is a great amount 4 him, we may aswell get a player that will help get us top 4! good ridence,
UP THE VILLA!
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Theres actually some comments on a villa blog for a change. Not sure man city is the best move for him, a step down from being linked with liverpool. Sincere letter though, if it was him that actually wrote it
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