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Ron Atkinson was the reason I joined Aston Villa said, Andy Townsend
Andy Townsend had moved to Aston Villa in a £2.1 million that season and the 30-year-old Irish midfielder revealed that he had multiple offers to join almost all the top clubs in England, including Manchester United but he chose to go to Villa Park because of their manager Ron Atkinson. Alex Ferguson had declared his interest in Townsend openly a year earlier and the former Chelsea man was one of the most sought after players in the country at the time.
Andy Townsend said “Off the four clubs that I knew were interested in me Aston Villa. Everton. Manchester City and Sheffield Wednesday —Villa were the clubs I most wanted to sign for. They did well last year. played good football with a good squad of players and it was the potential to win trophies that appealed to me most. Having Ron Atkinson as a manager was another attraction, for he’s the type of guy who will always be able to bring quality to a club. Players enjoy playing for him, he is respected and has won trophies at all his other clubs. He’s an interesting man. witty. charismatic. He wants his players to go out and do what they are good at. likes attacking. exciting football.”
