Why Villa boss Martin O'Neill ruled himself out of the England job

Nov 23 2007 By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN O'Neill revealed that he decided to stick with Aston Villa because he could not walk out on the club at a time when he can see real signs that his rebuilding work is beginning to pay dividends.

And he also spoke of the tremendous backing his team have received from the supporters which helped make his mind up that he could not enter the race to succeed Steve McClaren.

O'Neill has found dealing with the intense speculation about him replacing McClaren difficult to cope with.

He admitted: "I'm uncomfortable with it, but more so because I have a commitment to Aston Villa, and I'm absolutely committed to this.

"I set out 16 months ago in this job, I know there is no obstacle in the way. This is what I wanted to do.

"This job is far from complete and may never be completed. I feel as if I'm just starting out in it and we're getting things together.

"I feel as if we're getting a young side starting to gel, and, more importantly than that, I feel the Aston Villa support have come out in big numbers to support us."

Villa's average attendance is the fourth best in its history at the current time.

O'Neill continued: "I am not saying that that support is for me, or if it will last- you are only as good as your last result.

"All I am sayting is that I have got all those things to consider and I have considered them.

"I want to do this job- and that really should end it (the speculation).

"I am committed here to this job at Aston Villa and I actually love the job."

O'Neill concedes that he may never be asked to manage England again. He was interviewed for the post only to be beaten by Steve McClaren, and when asked if would consider England at a future time when he might be 'free' to do so, O'Neill said: "If I am free to leave Villa it is probably because I have got the sack.

"And I am not sure that is the next follow-up, to be managing an international job of such great status having been followed up with the boot.

"You have to ask yourself the question: 'Why would I be asked back again?' but to put it into perspective, I'm uncomfortable with this and I don't like it because they might think: 'we have 15 people to interview, and you're not going to be one of them'".