Cowans Hopeful Of Keeping Barry

Gordon Cowans believes that the summer will be an interesting time for Villa, and that summer spending should keep Barry here.

Speaking to the Evening Mail Cowans said that this season was Gareth Barry’s best by far and that he doesn’t need to move to be at a big club.

‘There should not be any reason why Gareth should move because we are a big club.

‘I have said it for years now that Gareth Barry needs to be playing with players on his level. Hopefully we can bring some players into this football club to keep Gareth with us who are on the level Gareth is.

‘That is the only way we will move onwards and upwards.

‘This is Gareth’s best season. He was outstanding last season, but this season he is head and shoulders above the rest.

‘He was absolutely outstanding against Blues, a class above everybody on the pitch.

‘We have a chairman with a lot of money and a manager who is up there with the very best there is, in my opnion. If that cannot attract players to the club, I don’t know what can.

‘And if we can qualify for Europe I’m sure Gareth will stay.’

Cowans was also full of praise for Martin O’Neill, especially in how he’s been able to get more out of the players than could be expected.

‘The players who are at the club at the moment have been fantastic for attitude and for workrate.

‘And there are some real good players at the club as well.

‘But, again, we have probably over-achieved. Martin O’Neill has probably got more out of them than could be expected.’