Aston Villa set for summer exodus as boss Gerard Houllier introduces new rules – report

EPL ,Liverpool vs Aston Villa, Gerard Houllier (Getty Images)

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Aston Villa are set for a turbulent summer with up to eight senior players keen to turn their back on the club following disputes with manager Gerard Houllier, according to the Daily Mail.

It is believed that Gabriel Agbonlahor, Stiliyan Petrov, Richard Dunne, James Collins, Brad Friedel, Ashley Young, Luke Young and Stephen Warnock are all eager to leave Villa Park.

As well as banning mobile phones in the dressing room, Houllier has introduced a new fine system for players who are late for training, meetings and pre-match gatherings, with 10 per cent for a first offence, then 20% for a second and 30% for a third.

Yet the new measures have been met with dissent from a number of first team players, with sources close to the squad suggesting the system has brought wide resentment as they believe they are being ‘treated like schoolkids’.

Houllier has found himself at the centre of criticism lately amongst Villa supporters, with just six wins from 25 Premier League games leaving his side one point above the relegation zone, yet owner Randy Lerner is backing his manager.

With Villa still to play Liverpool and a trip to face Arsenal at the Emirates before the end of the season, any further sign of discontent will surely be of concern to the club’s chiefs.

Despite this, chief executive Paul Faulkner reiterated the board’s support for Houllier, saying: “Our best chance of staying up is with Gerard.”