lsgworldl
11-03-2004, 04:34 AM
Aston Villa boss David O'Leary has told midfielder Lee Hendrie that a new contract for Thomas Hitzlsperger is his top priority.
Hendrie is adamant he qualifies for a new contract under the terms of his current deal, which still has 20 months to run.
He said: "There's a clause that says if I played 50 games, I would get a new deal. I've played around 100."
But boss O'Leary insisted: "We have to sort out Thomas first."
Hendrie and Mark Delaney both still have 20 months of their contracts to run, while Hitzlsperger's deal runs out in the summer.
We'll wait a couple of months before we look at it
Villa boss David O'Leary
O'Leary will turn his attention to Delaney and Hendrie at Christmas but Hendrie said: "When I signed the contract the clause about appearances was in there.
"The point passed months ago and they've put it off. I could really do with somebody sorting it out."
O'Leary said: "With regard to Lee and Mark, we haven't got around to speaking about it and the board haven't raised it with me.
"Hopefully, you tend to get people signed up before the summer - before they go away. It was similar with Gareth Barry last season.
"We'll wait a couple of months before we look at it. We have made the board aware of Thomas but I've not been told any news there."
O'Leary is almost certain to recommend that Hendrie and Delaney are given new contracts.
Hendrie has struck a rich vein of form, with four goals in his last five games, while Delaney has made an effective switch from centre-back to right-back to fill in for injury absences.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/3974029.stm
Hendrie is adamant he qualifies for a new contract under the terms of his current deal, which still has 20 months to run.
He said: "There's a clause that says if I played 50 games, I would get a new deal. I've played around 100."
But boss O'Leary insisted: "We have to sort out Thomas first."
Hendrie and Mark Delaney both still have 20 months of their contracts to run, while Hitzlsperger's deal runs out in the summer.
We'll wait a couple of months before we look at it
Villa boss David O'Leary
O'Leary will turn his attention to Delaney and Hendrie at Christmas but Hendrie said: "When I signed the contract the clause about appearances was in there.
"The point passed months ago and they've put it off. I could really do with somebody sorting it out."
O'Leary said: "With regard to Lee and Mark, we haven't got around to speaking about it and the board haven't raised it with me.
"Hopefully, you tend to get people signed up before the summer - before they go away. It was similar with Gareth Barry last season.
"We'll wait a couple of months before we look at it. We have made the board aware of Thomas but I've not been told any news there."
O'Leary is almost certain to recommend that Hendrie and Delaney are given new contracts.
Hendrie has struck a rich vein of form, with four goals in his last five games, while Delaney has made an effective switch from centre-back to right-back to fill in for injury absences.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/3974029.stm