Stephen Warnock to hold talks with Aston Villa to determine future

Stephen Warnock, Aston Villa(Getty Images)

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Aston Villa’s struggling defender Stephen Warnock intends to sit down with new manager Alex McLeish to determine his future at the club.

The left-back has not featured for Villa since their 4-0 defeat to Manchester City last December, leading to speculation that he will leave the club at the end of the season.

Wigan, Stoke and Bolton have all been linked with the defender but the 29-year-old, who is contracted with the club until 2013, is set to hold talks with Villa in the near future.

“I need to sit down with the manager and see what the future holds. Hopefully we’ll speak soon,” Warnock told Sky Sports News.

“Obviously last season was difficult for me. It was a tough time. Things need sorting out.

“For myself it’s a tough decision because I felt last season was very tough.

“I’m at the age now where I want to play week in week out. I don’t want to be sat in the reserves playing reserve team football when you feel like you’re good enough to play.”

Houllier’s departure from Villa Park and the subsequent appointment of McLeish has left fans feeling angry, but Warnock believes the supporters must back their new manager.

“The owners have thought long and hard about the right appointment and they’ve made that decision now and we’ve got to move forward.

“I think it’s interesting. Obviously it’s a bit of a controversial appointment to the fans. He’s a good manager improving and we’ll see what happens.

“It’s difficult but it shows the character of the man and what he’s capable of doing.

“If you look at his teams and what he’s done in the game I think he’s proven.”