Villa still keen on Bellamy

The General · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 3:56 pm

Aston Villa manager David O'Leary has still not given up hope of landing controversial Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy.

It had long been anticipated the temperamental forward would have found another club by this stage of the summer after being informed in no uncertain terms by Magpies boss Graeme Souness he has no future at St James' Park.

A list of suitors have been mentioned, notably Villa, Everton and Celtic following his loan spell at Parkhead over the second half of last season in the wake of his bitter and very public bust-up with Souness towards the end of January.

As it stands, the Welsh international is set to bite the bullet and return to pre-season training with Newcastle on July 4 unless a deal with another club can quickly be thrashed out.

It appeared Villa had fallen by the wayside as the suggestion was that Bellamy did not favour the move, particularly after he snubbed a switch to Birmingham in January.

But according to club secretary Steve Stride and his agent, Stephen Horner, the club remain in the hunt for the player.

"We haven't been informed either by the player or his representatives that he has rejected us, so it is something we are still actively pursuing. As far as I am concerned, we are still in there fighting," said Stride.

Horner has also refuted suggestions Bellamy has no intention of joining the Midlands club as he told the Evening Mail: "There has been no `turning down', or anything of the sort. At the moment he is heading back to Newcastle on July 4, but things could change. He has not turned Villa down."

Villa open the new campaign with a home game against Bolton, with manager David O'Leary looking to emulate last season's curtain-raising 2-0 victory over Southampton at Villa Park.

"It's always a bonus to have a home game on the opening day and a repeat of last season's performance against Southampton in our first match would obviously be welcome," O'Leary told the club's official website.

"We've had some good games against Bolton since I came here and Sam (Allardyce) will no doubt be looking for a good start himself.

"But since I've been here, we've made Villa Park a hard place to come to and we'll be looking to start off the season with three points."

And O'Leary would be an even happier man if Bellamy joined the ranks ahead of Villa's opening game.

Meanwhile Villa goalkeeper Stefan Postma is poised to quit the club for Spain after recent revelations about his private life.

The Dutchman had expressed his desire to leave anyway due to his lack of first-team football, and was in line for a move to Coca-Cola Championship side Ipswich.

But the 29-year-old now fears ridicule if he remains in this country after a former girlfriend made claims about their sex life.

"This would not happen in Holland, but in England it is different," said agent Pietr Buter.

"Stefan had a girlfriend who was not the right choice, but we hope it is all behind us now. It was upsetting for him and everyone close to him, but as a footballer you are public property and you just have to move on.

"There is a club in Spain who are serious about signing him, but there are some things to be sorted out."

Please enter your username and password to log in.
Username:	Password:	I forgot my password	Log me on automatically each visit:

Villa still keen on Bellamy

Football News

Latest Results