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O'Neill gives green light to US tour

Nov 22 2006

 

Martin O'Neill

MARTIN O'Neill has given the green light to take Villa on a prestigious pre-season tour of the United States.

Randy Lerner has been known for some weeks to favour the club heading off on a summer trip to his homeland.

A couple of money-spinning games in Shanghai, China, had also been mooted to former chairman Doug Ellis.

But O'Neill is not so keen on taking his Villa players on such long haul flights in preparation for the new campaign.

And while the InterToto Cup, or possible direct entrance into Europe, could throw a spanner in the works, the Villa boss likes the idea of travelling Stateside and granting Lerner his wishes.

Villa were last last America in July 1999 when John Gregory's side played in the Gotham Cup, a four-team tournament involving Ajax, Fiorentina, and Panathinaikos at the Giants Stadium in New Jersey.

It also remains a possibility that Villa could play one match in Canada against the Vancouver Whitecaps in British Columbia in July.

O'Neill said: "A couple of things have come in to my desk - including the offer to go to play in a tournament in Canada. But Randy Lerner wouldn't mind if there was a possibility of us going to America.

"To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't mind either, especially now I know the players a bit better. The truth is we've done nothing at the moment so we'll have to wait and see.

"I'll work in conjunction with the owner, and if it's America, then I'd genuinely fancy there and having a couple of games."

* Is a tour to the US a good idea? Tell us what you think at www.birminghammail.net/villa/yourshout

 

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