SEVERAL senior Aston Villa players have reassured worried fans that they will continue to ignore the never-ending transfer speculation surrounding them, and focus solely on Aston Villa’s relegation. “We didn’t get into this position by thinking about ourselves,” Micah Richards said. “We’re in this position as a team, so we need to come together, concentrate, and not take our foot of the gas, now we’ve finally been relegated.”
Gabby Agbonlahor admits he’s ignoring the media speculation surrounding his future at the club, despite the fact that relegation has already been confirmed. “I know everyone in the media thinks that since we’re relegated, we’re already on the beach relaxing, but we’re not easing up now that it’s official. We need to keep our feet on the ground and not get swept up in it all.” Joleon Lescott is equally as minded to ignore the countless transfer rumours surrounding him: “Now is not the time for me to focus on the huge salary I’m going to get in the MLS or China, not as long as Aston Villa are still a Premier League club.”
While caretaker boss Eric Black admits the great relief around the club now that Championship football has been secured for next season, he insists Villa’s players will still have a lot to play for in the remaining games. “We still have to secure 20th position of course,” he said. “And that’s not a guarantee yet the way Norwich are playing. (Phentermine) After that it’s all about finishing with as low of a points total as possible.”
Black acknowledges it’s unlikely his side will beat Derby’s record low points total of 11, given his team are currently on 16, but claims it’s not impossible. “We can’t rule out being deducted points by the Premier League,” he said. “Gabby is bound to fail a drug test any day now. No doubt N’Zogbia is involved in some sort of betting scandal somewhere. Micah Richards will probably assault a group of fans. And I’m sure Lerner is cooking the books some way, so I wouldn’t write us off just yet.”
Randy Lerner admits his phone hasn’t stopped ringing since Villa’s 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool in February and believes the club will be “powerless” to stop the world’s best teams from swooping for Villa’s stars. “As much as I hate to accept it, the club has to be realistic,” the Villa owner said. “We can’t expect players like Lescott, N’Zogbia, and Richards to stay with us on such a low wage, with teams like Barcelona, Bayern and PSG circling.”
Aston Villa’s official fans group released a statement where they thanked the players for their “dedication to the cause”. “All season long, these players have worked tirelessly to ensure this club’s relegation,” the statement read. “We wish them all the best in their search for equally high-paying contracts next season. They deserve everything they have coming to them.”
