New Manchester City star reveals his fear of “going stale”

Gareth Barry’s open letter to Aston Villa fans, as published in today’s Birmingham Mail, has finally surfaced, and the tone is a lot less apologetic than most of the media assumed it would be.

In lieu of remorse, the midfielder reveals his fear of going stale with the Midlands side. Additionally, he says his move was inspired by a desire to play regularly in his best position, something he apparently wasn’t doing already.

Anyway, here it is:

“AFTER all the speculation over the last 12 months, I want the chance to explain my decision to the Aston Villa fans.

Firstly, I want to thank them for the incredible support I have received over the last 12 years. This football club has been a huge part of my life. I joined a 16-year-old boy and 12 years later I am moving on as a 28-year-old man with a wife and two children.

A lot of things have changed in that time, players, management and a chairman, but every season bar none, whether we have been bottom half, mid-table or challenging for Europe, the support myself and the team have received has been fantastic.

My one huge regret is that during my time at this club we have not brought the fans the success they deserve and I obviously have to take my share of responsibility that we have not been good enough to win trophies.

I feel the club is in the best position it has been in during my time here, I think we have

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