Milner: I’m not to blame for O’Neill’s exit
Wednesday 25th August 2010, 1:57PM BST.
James Milner this afternoon denied claims it was his move to Manchester City that prompted Martin O’Neill to quit the Villa Park hot-seat.
O’Neill walked out on Villa just five days before the start of the new season, leaving Kevin MacDonald in caretaker charge, while Milner completed his protracted £26m move to Eastlands nine days later with Stephen Ireland moving in the opposite direction.
Despite not having confirmed the reason for his departure, it was reported that the Irishman had disagreed with owner Randy Lerner over 24-year-old Milner’s transfer and how the money it generated would be spent.
The England winger, however, today denied that his move to Eastlands was the catalyst behind O’Neill’s shock decision.
“No, I don’t think so,” Milner said. “You’ll have to ask Martin O’Neill his reasons for leaving, I don’t know whether he’s come out and say them. I’m sure they were the right reasons in his mind. He’s made the decision and he did a fantastic job at Aston Villa.
“The club’s come on in leaps and bounds, obviously Randy Lerner is there and he’s done a fantastic job, too.
“The way he’s run the club so far is top notch. I’m sure the fans are very happy that he’s at the helm and are looking forward to guiding them to success.”
The 24-year-old admitted he had not spoken to O’Neill since his departure, but insisted that he was just happy to have completed his move to City and had always been focused on his football.
“I have not spoken to him since he left the club,” Milner said of O’Neill. “It took a while to get here (City), but in the end it went through.
“When things are being said every day in the paper and wherever you go out and people are asking you what’s happening and you don’t know yourself, there’s only one thing you can do, just concentrate on your football and that’s all I did.”
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