Aston Villa

Villa director denies crisis talk
Aston Villa operations director Steve Stride says the club are in good shape despite the absence of Doug Ellis. Villa chairman Ellis, 81, is recovering from heart bypass surgery but Stride said: "To say we are a club in crisis is totally unfair. "Our plans were put in place before the chairman's illness anyway. "The budgets were laid down, the manager knows what his transfer budget is and he had already identified and told the board who his targets were." While Ellis has been recovering Luke Moore has signed a new three-year deal, sales director Stuart Ryan has joined the club and Stride has stepped up efforts to sign new players. Stride added: "The process now is to try to get those targets for him and to say that process cannot continue because the chairman is away is totally untrue. "I do get hurt by some of the comments. The one that really hurt me was for someone to say that we are a club in crisis. "To me a club in crisis is one that has just been relegated, has had to cut the playing squad in half and has a debt of £30m. "We could not be further away from that if we tried. We are in the Premier League with no debt and working hard to prepare for a new season."

Villa deny interest in Malbranque
Aston Villa's operating director Steve Stride has denied that the club are interested in signing Fulham's French midfielder Steed Malbranque. "During one of my many conversations with manager David O'Leary Malbranque's name cropped up," Stride told the club's official website. "But David insisted most definitely that Steed was not one of the names on his list." Malbranque, 25, joined Fulham from Lyon for £5m in August 2001.

Villa will wait to name new chief
Aston Villa will not replace chief executive Bruce Langham until they know the plans of chairman Doug Ellis. Ellis, 81, has had heart bypass surgery and is set to return to work in August. Operations director Steve Stride and company secretary Marion Stringer are in charge of the day-to-day affairs after Langham's resignation last month. Stride said: "It will be irresponsible of the board to make plans for the chief executive until we know exactly what the chairman's situation is." He added: "It is something that will be determined and discussed when he returns to the club. "I am quite sure he wants to come back to work but, as to whether his role will diminish at all, we will have to wait and see. "Knowing him as I do, he certainly will be itching to come back. "I think to be realistic he is hoping to be back for the first match of the new season on August 13."

Mellberg eyes Euro qualification
Olof Mellberg says the pressure is on Aston Villa to win a European place next season after the disappointment of the 2004-05 campaign. The defender saw Villa's push for a Uefa Cup place fade as they gained only two points in their last five matches. "We never had a long run of wins and that obviously makes a big difference," Mellberg, 27, told Villa's website. "We head to the new season knowing that the expectation will be there again and hopefully we can live up to that." Villa's poor finish saw them finish 10th overall last season, eight points away from seventh-placed Middlesbrough - the final qualifiers for the Uefa Cup. Speaking of his team's form, skipper Mellberg added: "It was up and down all the time. We won a couple of games then lost a couple. "

Villa deny Bowyer transfer report
Aston Villa manager David O'Leary has denied claims that he is planning a move for Newcastle's Lee Bowyer. Bowyer stalled on a switch to Villa's rivals Birmingham after a group of fans protested about the proposed deal. But boss David O'Leary told the Villa website that stories linking him to Bowyer were "absolute rubbish" and he said: "There's nothing in that at all." Operations director Steve Stride added: "This is just an easy link because David worked with the player at Leeds." He said: "We're currently doing everything we can to sign the players identified by David and Lee Bowyer is definitely not on our list."

Keeper Postma eyes Spain switch
Aston Villa goalkeeper Stefan Postma is poised to quit the club for Spain after revelations about his private life. The Dutchman, 29, was poised to join Championship side Ipswich but is now set to quit English football. "This would not happen in Holland, but its different in England," said agent Pietr Buter. "Stefan had a girlfriend who was not the right choice. "There is a club in Spain who are serious about signing him, but there are some things to be sorted out."

Villa keep up chase for Bellamy
Aston Villa insist they have not given up hope of landing Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy. Villa are one of several clubs chasing Bellamy since Magpies boss Graeme Souness made it clear he has no future at St James Park. Bellamy, 25, was thought not to favour a move to Villa Park but secretary Steve Stride told the Evening Mail: "We're still in there fighting. "We haven't been informed by the player or his agent that he's rejected us." Bellamy spent the second half of last season on loan at Celtic after a public bust-up with Souness. The Welsh international had been tipped to return to Celtic Park permanently, but the Bhoys are now under the new management of Gordon Strachan. Everton are also reportedly interested in Bellamy who will report back for pre-season training with Newcastle unless he can find a new club before 4 July. Bellamy's agent Stephen Homer agreed that Bellamy had not rejected Villa. He told the Evening Mail: "There has been no 'turning down' or anything of that sort. "At the moment he is heading back to Newcastle but things could change."

Fans cautious over Villa rumours
Aston Villa fans have reacted with caution to reports that a consortium may launch a £45m bid for the club. A group of investors, including former Manchester City player Ray Ranson, have been linked with a takeover bid. Villa Fans' Combined spokesman Jonathan Fear said: "If this is correct we would need to hear what they have to offer. "We would not want to see Villa sold on the cheap but if there is a worthwhile offer this would be a prime time for chairman Doug Ellis to step aside." Major shareholder Ellis has resisted any attempts to buy control of Villa and a £30m bid from a consortium, which included Ranson, was rejected 14 months ago. Ellis has suffered health problems in recent weeks and is recovering from triple heart bypass surgery. And Fear added: "This is an ideal time for Doug Ellis to walk away and save face. "This is nothing to do with fan pressure and I do hope Doug Ellis now does the best for himself, making sure his health is okay, and also that of the club in allowing a new dynamic group the chance to take Villa forward. "I am sure any group moving into Aston Villa would be able to give him an honorary position. "We hoped Doug would go, get himself back to good health for his retirement and stop holding Villa back. "If Doug continues, he is leaving the club in limbo and in danger of becoming a mid-table Premiership team season after season - or even lower."

Arsenal keeper Taylor joins Villa
Aston Villa boss David O'Leary has signed Arsenal goalkeeper Stuart Taylor, 24, on a four-year deal. The ex-England Under-21 international - O'Leary's third summer signing - says he is desperate to push Thomas Sorensen for the number one spot. Taylor said: "This is all about career progression. It was no good for me to stay at Arsenal. "Thomas is a great goalkeeper. But it's up to me to push him all the way," he told Villa's website. "This is a new start. I enjoyeed my time at Arsenal but it's time to move on." Taylor made 30 senior appearances for the Gunners but has fallen down the pecking order at Highbury and was third choice behind Jens Lehmann and Manuel Almnunia. The Romford-born keeper has had loan spells with Bristol Rovers, Crystal Palace, Peterborough and spent time with Leicester last season. O'Leary has already signed midfielder Patrick Berger from Portsmouth and Newcastle defender Aaron Hughes.

Phillips completes Villa switch
Southampton striker Kevin Phillips has joined Aston Villa in a £1m transfer. "I'm determined to make my mark and show I can still get goals in the Premiership," Phillips told the Villa website after signing a two-year deal. The former St Mary's boss Gordon Strachan paid Sunderland £3.25m for Phillips, 31, in August 2003. The ex-England striker scored 23 Premiership goals in 64 appearances and is the first high-profile name to leave the Saints since they were relegated. Phillips was a target for Villa manager David O'Leary during the last transfer window, and the Irishman has finally got his man. "I know the manager has been interested in signing me for some time," added Phillips. "When it became clear Villa were still in for me this summer, there was no doubt in my mind. I didn't want to go anywhere else. "It's a boost as a player to know the manager rates you so highly and hopefully I can justify that faith with a few goals here next season." The former England international will become O'Leary's fourth new signing this summer, following winger Patrik Berger, defender Aaron Hughes and goalkeeper Stuart Taylor. It was while with Sunderland, when he scored 132 goals in 236 appearances, that Phillips came to prominence with England, winning the first of his eight caps in April 1999 in a 1-1 draw against Hungary. He last pulled on an England shirt in February 2002. He failed to score in any of his England appearances, though that did not deter the Saints from prising Phillips away from Sunderland following their relegation from the top flight in 2003.

Phillips' parting swipe at Saints
Kevin Phillips has fired a parting shot at Southampton after his £1m move to Aston Villa. Phillips, 31, joined Saints in a £3.25m move from Sunderland in August 2003, after the Black Cats were relegated. The former England striker said: "I'm glad I was able to get away from Southampton, I never really felt happy about joining them. "It was a move that never really felt right for me and I'm glad I can resurrect my Premiership career." Phillips scored 27 goals in 73 appearances in all competitions for the Saints, where his partnership with England striker James Beattie was touted as one of the most potent in the Premiership. Beattie left for Everton in a £6m deal in January and Phillips said: "My partnership with James never really got going. "But I know I can make my mark and still score goals in the Premiership. "It's too early to talk about targets but wherever I have played I've always set my sights on 20 goals a season. "When it became clear Villa wanted me, I didn't want to go anywhere else."

Cooke glad to be at Bournemouth
Stephen Cooke is glad to have finally put pen to paper on the two-year deal at Bournemouth he agreed last month. The 22-year-old midfielder joins from Aston Villa - after two previous loan spells at Dean Court in 2002 and 2004. "It's great to be back - as soon as I knew Bournemouth were in for me, I was interested," he told the club website. "They play the game the right way, I know most of the lads from my two previous spells, and I can't wait to get into pre-season training."

Blades recruit Nix and Mulligan
Sheffield United have recruited two young players on one-year contracts from other clubs' academies. Australian-born midfielder Kyle Nix, 19, joins from Aston Villa and is an England Under-19 international. Republic of Ireland Under-21 striker or centre-back Gary Mulligan, 20, was just released by Wolves and had a loan spell at Rushden & Diamonds last season. "This is a great opportunity for both lads, who have shown promise," boss Neil Warnock told the club website. "I have watched Mulligan a few times and he was the best player on the park in those games, while Nix did well when we had him at the end of last season." The Blades have also offered professional contracts to six players from their own academy - Stephen Quinn, Travis Binnion, Ryan Gyaki, Colin Marrison, Kyle McFadzean and Nick Travis.

Chilean club eye De la Cruz move
Aston Villa's Ecuador international Ulises de la Cruz has revealed that he is being targeted by Colo Colo. The Chilean club have just reappointed Ricardo Dabrowski as boss and he has identified the 31-year-old defender as a possible signing. "It's a great honour Colo Colo want me as they're one of the giants in their country," said De la Cruz, who is currently on holiday in Ecuador. De la Cruz joined Villa from Hibernian in the summer of 2002. His contract with Villa is due to expire at the end of next season.

Bellamy has time to find new club
Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy will not return to the club for pre-season training on Monday after being given an extra seven days to seek a transfer. "Craig Bellamy is not due to return to training until next week along with those who took part in international matches," said a club spokesman. The 25-year-old spent the last half of last season on loan at Celtic after a row with Magpies boss Graeme Souness. Celtic, Aston Villa and Everton lead the chase to sign the Welshman. With the striker's exit looking ever more certain, Souness could start the season with only Shearer and youngster Michael Chopra as his strike force. Shola Ameobi is still at the club but will miss the start of the campaign through injury. Newcastle's first competitive game is the first leg of their InterToto Cup third round tie against either Ankaraspor or Dubnica on the weekend of 16/17 July. The Magpies, however, insisted there had been no change of plan. "Craig Bellamy is not due to return to training until next week along with those players who took part in international matches after the end of last season," said a club spokesman. "He will return with the rest of the players next week." Bellamy also fell out with Newcastle captain Alan Shearer after allegedly sending him abusive text messages and is unlikely to return to the club.

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