David O'Leary this afternoon dismissed speculation linking him with a return to former club Leeds, insisting he is committed to Aston Villa.
Reports had suggested the Irishman could be on his way back to take charge at Elland Road following the dismissal of Peter Reid and that his relationship with Villa chairman Doug Ellis had broken down after just a few months in the job.
O'Leary oversaw one of the most successful periods in Leeds' history, taking them into the Champions League where they reached the semi-finals. However, he was axed in June last year as Leeds failed to recapture their form and faced up to mounting financial problems.
The Irishman made a swift return to management at Villa Park, and despite the midlanders struggling near the relegation zone, O'Leary insists he is not about to walk out.
He told the club's official website, www.avfc.co.uk: "I'm here at Aston Villa and I'm happy at Aston Villa.
"I have a three-year deal at Aston Villa and I hope I'm here for a lot longer than that. If the board came to me tomorrow and asked me to sign a longer deal, I'd sign it. "I came here to Aston Villa in the summer and I knew it was going to be a hard job - I never pretended otherwise - and that intrigued me. "I've never pretended the job could be done overnight, but I'm no quitter and I have no plans to walk away just because the job is as challenging as I always knew it would be."
O'Leary, speaking from Dubai where his side played a friendly against Al Nasr last night, also maintained he has a healthy relationship with his current chairman.
"I have a great relationship with the chairman and nothing has changed from my arrival in May. I'm proud to be the manager of Aston Villa and I hope that's clear enough."
PA