Wrong.
He knew that we would have to cut back and work on a budget, after spending heavily for the past 3 years.
What made him leave was that Lerner manoeuvred the sales of top players such as Barry and Milner behind O'Neill's back.
I wouldn't really say he 'manoeuvred' the sales of the better players behind his back. From what I remember Lerner was pretty open about them needing to sell to balance the books and O'Neill threw a massive paddy because he was told he wouldn't get every penny made off the Milner deal to spunk up the wall, which was why he left five days before the start of the season rather than when he was made aware that sales would be made. I also remember Villa players texting pictures of bottles of champagne to one another when it was announced he'd fucked off. Great signs.
Nee need for racism like.