Aston Villa boss O’Neill wants winter market extended

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill says the month-long winter market is too short.

While he opted not to take advantage of the window on this occasion, O’Neill wants to see the current mid-season marketplace extended into February.

“My viewpoint on the window is that it’s a wretchedly bad time. I think everyone is in agreement with that,” said O’Neill.

“If you are going to have it, my own particular view is that they should extend it to at least the second week in February, if not the third. I accept it is to do with European rules and regulations but I think it should be up until around the time the Champions League and Europa League return.

“If you are going to have it, then rather than just having a mad month in January, I think the extension of a couple of weeks would at least take the kind of rushing around out of it.”