Another day, another crisis for Aston Villa

ANOTHER day, another crisis at Aston Villa.

Still reeling from the resignation of two new directors, the football club has  suspended its star player and club captain Gabriel Agbonlahor on a suspected breach of discipline.

The player was pictured in newspapers over the weekend apparently partying in London on the day his team was relegated from the Premier League.

There have been allegations that canisters of laughing gas – legal high – were in evidence.

The suspension comes as the club is reportedly getting ready to shed a significant number of jobs from its wider, non-playing staff.

Agbonlahor had already been suspended for two weeks by stand-in coach Eric Black over claims he wasn’t fit enough to play at the top level.

The media relations team at the football club has been in meltdown over the last few days and and it continued its output with the following statement.

“Aston Villa Football Club has today suspended Gabby Agbonlahor pending an internal investigation,” it said.

“This is following allegations concerning his conduct at the weekend.

“There will be no further comment from the club in relation to this matter until the investigation has been completed.”

The investigation comes just weeks after the player was the subject of an earlier investigation after he was after he was pictured smoking a shisha pipe in Dubai.

Considering his previous standing at the club, the player’s fall from grace has been spectacular over the last few months and the fans have turned against a player they previously idolised.

Agbonlahor is the longest-serving squad member and in addition to being club captain he is also the club’s record goalscorer in the Premier League.

However, the fact he achieved this in the 6-1 win over Sunderland three years ago in April 2013 speaks volumes for why the club finds itself in the situation it is.

The fact is was such a popular figure with the fans is because of his previous loyalty to Villa.

A product of the club’s academy, he made his first-team debut in the 4-1 loss to Everton in March 2006, however, the then 19-year-old still grabbed the headlines by scoring Villa’s only goal.

He has gone on to make more than 300 top-flight appearances for the club – and has scored goals in 10 successive seasons.

He made his senior international debut for England in 2008 and has earned three caps to date, although it is extremely unlikely he will add to this tally.

Following his suspension last week, fans were calling him ‘Flabby Gabby’ and even suggested that he be subjected to ridicule by being named in the team to play Manchester United and then substituted after 30 seconds, thereby guaranteeing him infamy.