Last Updated: Sat, 03 May 2008 11:59
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has hit out at Liverpool over their handling of their offer for captain Gareth Barry.
O'Neill has already confirmed that the Reds have approached him about the 27-year-old Barry, who still has two years to run on his Villa contract, although he also said it was a player exchange deal rather than cash.
However, it is the timing of the move that has upset the former Leicester and Celtic chief as well as the fact that it has come out in the public domain.
Villa are still in the race for European qualification, lying in sixth place, three points behind Everton with two games left.
O'Neill told Villa's official website: "I'm particularly disappointed to hear that business is being conducted in public and I just want to be clear on this in that we're trying to build a side here and we're not a feeder club.
"I don't want to be in a position of letting really good players go. Gareth Barry is a really good player who still has two years left on his contract.
"I haven't discussed these things with him yet. At some stage obviously I will do. But the day before probably our most important game of the season is not the time to be discussing it.
"It's particularly disappointing to find out that Liverpool have carried the story in their local paper. It's certainly not the way that the Liverpool of old conducted business. I prefer to do things with a bit or privacy and a bit of confidentiality.
"That's particularly disappointing, especially at this time."