Randy Lerner is the real loser - Martin O' Neill
VILLA manager Martin O’Neill admitted the biggest loser in the coin-throwing debacle – apart from official Phil Sharp – was club owner Randy Lerner.
The incident marred the goalless draw with Portsmouth which kept Villa in the top six and maintained their unbeaten home league record.
But all the talk afterwards was of the 50 pence piece which arrowed into Sharp’s forehead and could conceivably land Villa in trouble if the culprit is not found.
O’Neill said: “He (Lerner) will be extremely disappointed because he has a love affair with the club and this will be a setback to him.
“It’s particularly disappointing for us because the chairman has made great strides here. The club is supporter- friendly, trying to get people into the ground to support us and I’m sure I’d echo the chairman’s thoughts, although
I haven’t seen him yet. It’s mindless.”
Pompey boss Harry Redknapp has called for greater policing of dug-outs to help safeguard against such incidents in the future.
But O’Neill thinks it would be too hasty to return football grounds to the dark days of the 1970s when heavy iron railings and metal netting kept supporters apart from players and officials.
“You wouldn’t want that. If these incidents became plentiful then you would have to do something about that,’’ he said.
“But I think Harry has definitely got a point and it’s something we, as a club, will start discussing now because it’s happened so close to the dug-out.
“Maybe dug-outs should be protected more, but how do you do it?
“I haven’t had cause in my two years here to see exactly how it is stewarded. I have had words with one or two boys behind the goal who are telling me how to do my job, quite forcefully at times, but that’s part of it.
“In my time here I don’t remember too many incidents like it. It shouldn’t have happened but sometimes you can’t avoid it.
“Some mindless ‘being’ might just lash out. It’s pointless and it’s a criminal offence.”
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