Former captain begs Villa fans for forgiveness

After his desperate attempts to find some Champions League football last summer, Gareth Barry has finally left Aston Villa, joining Manchester City for £12m. Upon confirming he will now be receiving £100,00-a-week instead of a pathetic £60,000, Barry told the official City website:

“I’m delighted to be joining City. It didn’t take much persuasion from Mark Hughes, they are heading in the direction I want to go.” [Um, isn’t that the direction from which you just came? - Ed.]

Villans have registered their disgust with the midfielder, who appears to have abandoned his agenda of playing with the European big boys (”I’m desperate to play Champions League football and that’s why I have to leave Villa.”) by joining a team who will not even be invited to participate in the Europa League.

As a means of explaining himself, Barry has written an open letter to Villa fans explaining his sideways money-driven move well informed decision, which will be published by a the Birmingham Mail later today.

As soon as we get our grubby little hands on it, we’ll post it.

UPDATE: here it is