O'Leary in for long haul: Manager David O'Leary yesterday signed a new contract with Aston Villa until 2008 and was then promised money to spend on new players during the January transfer window. O'Leary joined Villa in 2003 and guided them to a sixth-place finish last season, a year after they had flirted with relegation under Graham Taylor.

Villa are seventh in the table and O'Leary is hoping to strengthen his squad next month to support their bid for European soccer next season. "I'm here for the long haul," the former Republic of Ireland defender said. "We now want to move the club forward. I think it's going to be a long process and that's not me talking it down, I'm just being realistic."

O'Leary has presented the club's chairman with a list of five players, who are potential buys, as he looks to bolster one of the smallest squads in the English Premiership. One of O'Leary's chief targets, striker James Beattie, may not be available after Southampton manager Harry Redknapp insisted the player would not be leaving St Mary's.