Delaney hands in transfer request

Mark Delaney now sees his future away from Villa Park

Mark Delaney has handed in a transfer request to leave Aston Villa.

The Wales defender, 29, has six months left on his current contract, with Villa having another year as an option, but recent talks on a new deal stalled.

Villa manager David O'Leary said he would like to take up the option of a further season if Delaney can prove his fitness over the next few months.

But it is believed that the Wales international player does not want to be seen as a short term stop-gap.

Delaney missed the first half of the current campaign with a knee injury and has only played four matches this season.

That had seen O'Leary set Delaney the challenge to play more consistently if he wanted to win a new contract at the club.

"What he needs now is a good run of games to be in a stronger position regarding his future," O'Leary had said.

"Then, even if this club doesn't take him, he will have shown everyone else what he is capable of."

Delaney's agent Richard Rosser claims Villa should have treated Delaney, who has been at the club for seven years, with more respect.

Rosser said: "It was a difficult decision for Mark to go on the transfer list.

"The club has been dilly-dallying and he wanted to make a point. There's no reason why he can't secure a move in January.

"We last spoke to them in April. If the club don't want him, why don't they let him go? If they do, why don't they open contract doors?

"Mark has pledged his loyalty. I thought they would have treated him with a little more dignity."