You've no ambition, Merson tells Villa

'I have my thoughts on Graham Taylor and I don't want to share them. Sometimes you get on with a manager and sometimes you don't. If you don't, it's best to move on.

'Graham Taylor said as soon as he came in that I wouldn't be part of his plans this season. He said I'd definitely not start any games and only get the odd substitute appearance. I was gutted. I knew as soon as he told me that I'd have to look elsewhere.'

Merson's comments have a familiar ring. Just 24 hours earlier, Holland's George Boateng had raised similar criticisms after his £5million switch to Middlesbrough had gone through.

Twelve months earlier, England pair Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu had each offered much the same views as they trod the path to Teesside, while England reserve keeper David James also spoke out in similar fashion before he was shipped out to West Ham for £3.5m a year ago.

Taylor revealed his frustration at Merson's outburst when he said: ' Paul should say those things to the manager or to whoever he feels he should speak to at Aston Villa. At times like this, I'm very conscious of the image of Aston Villa Football Club. Far too many times it has been beaten by people unfairly.'

By contrast, Merson could not speak highly enough of his new boss Harry Redknapp. He said: 'I'm not interested in finishing in mid-table. I want success and that ' s why I ' ve joined Portsmouth, who have a great manager in Harry, one of the best in the business. I've taken a massive pay cut to come to Portsmouth but that doesn't bother me because I'm not interested in simply driving around in a flash car. I just want to be playing football.

'I'm not interested in the Premiership now and the only way I'll get back there is with Portsmouth, who have assembled a team capable of going up.

'This is my last big move. I've been given a two-year contract and that will be it because after that I will retire.'

Redknapp, who has also agreed terms for Parma's 33-year- old former Italy full back Antonio Benarrivo, said: 'Paul is a topclass player and I've always admired him. Money never played a big part in the talks and that impressed me most.'

Merson's former club look certain to be without striker Darius Vassell against Lille as they bid to reach a second successive Inter-Toto final. The first leg finished 1-1.

Vassell is suffering from severe blistering of his feet and fellow striker Juan Pablo Angel is not ready for action after a knee injury. Marcus Allback is likely to partner Peter Crouch up front.