DELANEY WORRIED ABOUT VILLA PARK EXIT

By Ryan Ghee
December 22 2005

Aston Villa defender Mark Delaney is worried that he will be shown the exit door at Villa Park when his contract expires at the end of the season.

The Welsh international has only six months left to run on his current deal and with Villa failing to show any signs that they will offer him new contract before the end of the current campaign, Delaney seems resigned to the fact that his time at Villa Park is up.

A disappointed Mark Delaney commented, "I'm a bit surprised but it's the manager's and the board's decision. If they want to go in a different direction then I don't mind.

"The club have got an option (of a one year extension) but that isn't going to help me and, in my eyes, I have the summer to work out where I am going to go.

"Hopefully I would like to stay in the Premiership and I need the next contract I get to be a good one wherever it is.

"We tried last year and we have tried recently to try and resolve the matter but we are not getting any real response," the 29-year old continued.

"I just wish Villa would tell me 'Mark you are not required' and I can start thinking about something else. I'll have no qualms about that and if the club say 'that's enough' then that is fine.

"I have had seven good years here and I don't want it to get bitter and me leave on bad terms. It is quite sad as the club have been good to me.

"I would be disappointed to leave but I am realistic enough to know that things change and people change."