PETROV IS CLUB CAPTAIN

New Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has confirmed that midfielder Stilian Petrov will remain as a club captain for now, although he has confirmed that he will be looking to appoint a new captain to represent the club on the pitch. Stilian Petrov was recently diagnosed with leukaemia, which means that he is set to miss a considerable portion of the next season. Despite this, Paul Lambert has decided to offer the position of being the club captain to the former Celtic midfielder. The 32-year-old Bulgarian international has been a huge influence on Aston Villa in recent seasons, and Paul Lambert hopes that it will continue even after his arrival.

Aston Villa recently managed to bring in former Norwich city manager Paul Lambert amidst a lot of fury from the Cannaries. The former Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish was using striker Gabriel Agbonlahor as the captain on the pitch for the club. However, it is thought that Paul Lambert will be looking to make a defender or the goalkeeper as the captain. Lambert has also revealed that the club will be undergoing a major overhaul when it comes to the scouting system. Aston Villa have been on a constant downhill in the last couple of seasons, which Lambert will be hoping to avoid this season.

“Stiliyan is still club skipper, no doubt. He’s a huge influence on the club. I just need to look for a team captain. He’s such a strong lad and a terrific guy. It makes you sick, actually, when you have played with someone, seen them in their prime and are close to them, then you know he has an illness like that. Hopefully he’ll be OK and be here,” said Lambert when speaking after his official appointment on the official website of Aston Villa.

HODGSON BACKS VILLA

West Brom manager Roy Hodgson has said that he does not believe for one minute that Aston Villa will be relegated to the Championship at the end of this season. Aston Villa have long been recognised as the biggest club in Midlands having won the coveted European trophy, while they have also one of the greatest history amongst most of the English clubs. However, they are in a real danger of being relegated this season, as they are only two points about the relegation zone. Aston Villa are ever closer to the relegation zone after suffering the 2-1 demoralising defeat at the hands of Bolton in the midweek action.

The club will be facing archrivals West Brom during the weekend. West Brom, under the former Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson, have secured safety in the Premier league for next season and will be looking forward to a great afternoon against Villa. Hodgson, though, believes that the Aston Villa players are too good to go down this season. Even though this is a cliche that has been said a lot, Hodgson believes that McLeish has the experience to lead Aston Villa away from the relegation zone in the upcoming matches, in which they will be facing the likes of West Brom and Tottenham.

“I don’t ever accept true responsibility for when managers losing their job has been the direct result of a match with another team that you happen to be coaching at the time. Obviously there is going to come a moment where people’s tenure at a club comes to an end. It’s unfortunate I suppose if you happen to be the last one when the axe does fall,” he said ahead of the derby with Villa. Aston Villa have just one win in their last 13 Premier league matches, which makes for a grim reading.

BOTHAM BACKS PETROV

Cricketer Sir Ian Botham has said that Aston Villa captain Stilian Petrov can successfully recover from the leukaemia he has been recently diagnosed with due to the fact that he is an extremely strong person, and due to the fact that he has fitness of his side.

Stilian Petrov was recently diagnosed with leukaemia and it has brought together the entire football world in support of the Bulgarian. Even those from other walks of the professional game have also expressed their sadness at the Bulgarian being diagnosed with leukaemia. Sir Ian Botham has been one of them. The former England cricketer has said that even though it is a sad news, he remains hopeful that Petrov can successfully fight the cancer.

Petrov was identified with leukaemia only three weeks ago and he has begun intensive treatment. Sir Ian Botham has been one of the regular supporters for people diagnosed with leukaemia, and he has been doing the same since 1985. He has said that he has seen many people successfully fight this cancer, and says that Petrov is probably one of the best equipped to deal with this problem. This is because Petrov has an amazing attitude and is one of the fittest players in the game today.

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IRELAND WANTS TO STAY

Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland has said that he is hoping to remain as a Aston Villa player next season. Stephen Ireland has been criticised by current boss Alex McLeish for not being professional enough. The midfielder arrived in a swap deal involving James Milner from Manchester City a few seasons ago. However, he has not been able to stake a claim in the first-team due to his regular problems off the pitch. He recently dismissed suggestions that he is looking for a move to the United States to play with former Aston Villa striker Robbie Keane, who is currently with MLS side LA Galaxy.

Robbie Keane made the great impact with Aston Villa during his short term loan spell from LA Galaxy. He has also seem to have affected the future plans of Stephen Ireland after that have been recent speculation that the Ireland midfielder is looking for a move to the United States in order to escape the constant attention from the media over his private life. Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish recently said that watching Ireland play is a great pleasure, and he hopes that the midfielder will soon become a regular part of the first team.

“My objective now is to be the best I can and to keep entertaining the fans. Things are going brilliantly for me at the moment and that’s a massive relief. I’ve put 100 per cent into my game, tried to express myself and work hard for the team. It makes it even more satisfying when you feel you’ve ‘earned’ your shirt,” said Ireland ahead of the match with Arsenal during the weekend. Aston Villa will be taking on one of the inform teams in the Premier league in the form of Arsenal. They can put their relegation worries to the bed with a win at the Emirates.

MCLAISH CONFIRMS CLEAR-OUT

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has confirmed that the club will be having significant transfer funds in the summer in order to overhaul the squad, which has become stale in recent seasons. Ever since the departure of Martin O’Neill a few seasons ago, Aston Villa have been struggling in the table.

They have not only been able to get into the top half of the table, but they have been struggling with relegation since then. The arrival of Alex McLeish was not expected to change things a lot, and it certainly has not done anything. Hence, Alex McLeish has said that a significant portion of the profits made by transfers will be reinvested in the squad in the summer.

A number of players including the likes of Stewart Downing and Ashley Young have been sold for a combined profit of around £ 40 million. James Milner has also recently left the club for around £ 24 million, but so far, Aston Villa’s best investment came in the summer when they signed Wigan winger Charles N’Zogbia for around £ 10 million. As a result, Alex McLeish has confirmed that Aston Villa will have significant transfer funds in the summer in order to refresh the squad.

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