Ex-Saddler becomes stand-in Villa Captain's representitive

Aston Villa and England midfielder Gareth Barry has revealed after getting rid of former agent Alex Black he relies on his best friend, former team-mate and ex-Saddler Michael Standing to represent him.

Barry was believed to be unhappy with the way the on-off transfer to Liverpool in the summer panned out and after sacking Black asked his lifelong friend to act as his agent.

The Aston Villa midfielder told The Birmingham Mail: "Michael's just speaking to the club really on my behalf at the moment, that's all it is, because obviously my contract ended with Alex Black. It's just getting somebody around me that I trust 100 per cent and Michael's my best pal. So I'm letting Michael do my talking, but it's nothing more than that at the moment."

Standing joined Villa on the same day as Barry but never made an appearance for the Premier League side, after a stint with Walsall he now plays for Blue Square Premier team Lewes. He is not a qualified agent but Barry seems satisfied that his interests are being handled well.

"Michael's talking about me so it's a pretty easy job for him. If he was going to go in there and talk a lot of nonsense I wouldn't have asked him. I've confided in Michael and I'm happy he can do what's needed, which isn't too much at the moment,"

Standing now plays for Lewes in the Blue Square Premier and has a good return of 5 goals in 24 games for a side currently struggling in 23rd spot, 12 points adrift of safety. With his side only scoring 18 league goals this season, Standing's contribution has seen him go joint top of their scoring charts, although one goal came in Lewes 2-1 Carlsberg Trophy win at Team Bath.