Villa boss threatens Defoe action

Angry Villa boss Martin O'Neill today threatened to bring in the Press Complaints Commission over reports he met Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe at the club's Bodymoor Heath training ground.

Defoe had been heavily linked with a move to Villa before announcing he was staying at Spurs yesterday.

Reports last week said the England international had met O'Neill at Villa's £13m training complex.

"This idea that Jermain Defoe was seen at the training ground – I'm sorry, sometimes people are going to have to believe me occasionally," said O'Neill.

"That one is a Press Complaints issue and I'm very serious about that.

"I said he wasn't at the training ground and when I said through (Villa's head of media) Phil Mepham he wasn't at the training ground, I thought that would be it."

Defoe captained Spurs' in their 2-0 win over Sunderland on Sunday and revealed he'd made his peace with boss Juande Ramos.

"I've always said I want to stay at this club and the fans showed their appreciation," said Defoe.

"I think we can do something special."

Defoe had said Ramos told him he could go but added: "The manager pulled me aside the day after he told me I could leave and said he hadn't meant it.

"He was honest with me. He said he wanted me to stay and get goals."