Ireland to be sold in January

SOCCER:GERARD HOULLIER says Aston Villa will look to sell Republic of Ireland international Stephen Ireland in January after the midfielder expressed a desire to leave the club less than four months after joining from Manchester City.

The Villa manager, who has omitted Ireland from his squad for the second week running, also warned any other players who are disgruntled with his regime that it is case of “adapt or you die”.

Houllier sounded exasperated with the “whinging and moaning” he has put up with over the changes he has made since becoming manager in September, but the Frenchman said he would not bow to players’ demands, which include calls for more days off.

Instead he said “those who are not happy” will leave, which opens up the possibility of Republic of Ireland international Richard Dunne, who was dropped last Saturday and may not make the substitutes’ bench at Wigan today, following Ireland out of the club.

Villa will look to recoup the €9.4 million Ireland was valued at when he arrived as a makeweight in the deal that took James Milner to Eastlands. Ireland has made 12 appearances for Villa but he has completed 90 minutes on only two occasions.

He was not in the squad against West Bromwich Albion last Saturday and has not travelled to Wigan despite Ashley Young being ruled out after suffering a knee injury. “He said he wanted to go in January, to his agent. I’m not convinced, not so sure about that,” Houllier said before later admitting: “Once a player wants to go, he goes.” He also confirmed the club want to get their money back.

Houllier said he regretted publicly criticising Ireland in October, when he questioned the player’s work rate. “I said – and I regret to have said – that he should push more, but somebody asked the question and they saw him play. I like the man, the player. He’s got some skill, touch, an eye for a pass, but he’s got to adapt to modern football as well.”

The Frenchman said he initiated the squad meeting that took place the week before last but denied there had been a bust-up with Dunne. He did, however, admit there was unrest among the players. “You adapt or you die,” Houllier said.

“We are changing a lot of things and that upset the comfort of some players. We know that sometimes people are whinging and moaning but they have a fantastic job. I am not going to give more days off than I was doing.”