Robert Pires to decide on Villa future

Robert Pires will consider whether to continue playing at the end of the season after he revealed he has received several offers to extend his career away from Villa.

The 37-year-old midfielder was manager Gerard Houllier's first signing when he joined the club on a six-month deal in November.

It has taken Pires several months to build up his fitness and, although he has showed occasional flashes of the brilliance, he has generally be used as an impact substitute.

The former Arsenal man expressed a desire to remain with the claret and blues last month but with Houllier under pressure to trim the wage bill the veteran, who has started just four games, is expected to be one of those let go in the summer.

Pires said: "I'm prepared to retire in May if that's what it comes to. But I am also ready to go wherever an interesting proposition comes from, be it Qatar or to the United States. I've even had an offer from Australia.

"I'm still playing in the Premier League so I get noticed. People haven't forgotten about me. Anyway, it is a case of one thing at a time and I'll look at that at the end of the season.

"I never choose a club because of the city it is in. I will look at the sporting challenge as I always have.

"At Villa I'm paid on a match-by-match basis with a small fixed salary so I didn't come here for the money."

Pires has played an important role in helping pass on his experience to some of Villa's promising youngsters and has enjoyed passing on the benefit of his 20 years as a professional.

He said: "I have mainly played in cup games. That's been the coach's call and I have to respect it but I know why I came to Aston Villa.

"I knew I wouldn't get much playing time and that my job was to be a role model for the younger players. I'm fine with that.

"I wouldn't have been so happy at 22 or 23 but I'm ok with it now. The club is well run and well respected for its long history and there is a fantastic atmosphere inside Villa Park.

"The young guys watch me at training, and ask me for advice on performing at the top of the game, and how to succeed over the course of a career, stuff like that.

"We chat, but it's not as if I'm anyone's shrink! It's what Gerard Houllier asked me to do, and he made that clear right from the start.

"Having said that, when I'm on the bench the only thing I want to do is get on the pitch. But I knew what I was getting in to and I know what I'm doing here."