'Money before lives' - Aston Villa fans fume at key Premier League update

Aston Villa and the rest of the top flight will go ahead with full contact training after being given the green light by the league on Wednesday

Aston Villa and the rest of the Premier League have unanimously agreed to give the green light to full contact training as football seeks its return to normality amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The top flight released a statement earlier on Wednesday to explain that clubs can no take part in full physical training, including tackles, but have urged squads to minimise ‘unnecessary close contact’.

They insist that their priority remains the health and wellbeing of all participants.

For Villa, it’s another step towards towards completing their first campaign back in the Premier League since returning from the Championship in 2019.

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They still have ten matches left to play, and remain in the relegation zone, but if they were to win their game in hand against Sheffield United, they’d lift themselves out of the bottom three.

The news today, though, has received a mixed response among Villa supporters.

Some remain concerned for the welfare of the players and staff, and have called on the leagues to hold off training for the foreseeable future. Others have urged key pair Jack Grealish and John McGinn to be wrapped in cotton wool!

Aston Villa fans respond to PL statement

Regina Darcy: There are 3 Villa season ticket holders in my home, we would rather our players were kept safe than resume football. #keeptheplayerssafe

Paul Linton: Let’s hope our flops turn up now the stadiums are empty, it’s our only hope

Richard Lewis: I expect to see Jack and Ginny in full cotton wool kits. You know just in case.

BlackBear : What happens when the first player gets a sniffle?

Eddie Boyle: We are all excited about super John McGinn coming back and working his magic in the middle with Grealish. Hoping the rest of the squad is back relaxed and in a new frame of mind and ready to put 100% EVERY game to survive the drop, but...It only takes 1 player to have the virus. 1 training session. Half the squad could be out again. This could be devastating, especially if it’s just before the season kicks off again

Peter-Rabbit Nelson: How do you tackle yet minimise unnecessary close contact??? If the Premier League’s priority was the health and safety of the players it would have been cancelled months ago...it’s all about the money!

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Phil Maddox: I understand players’ fears. But at the end of day we are all having to go back to work in the coming weeks and in all fairness footballers ain’t no different.

Adam Hackett: Happy days. We were getting relegated either way, at least we get to see a bit of football again.

Rob Collins: Worked ok in Germany so far. At least we have a chance of staying up it we finish it.

Tom Meadows: Just don’t go anywhere near Grealish and McGinn

Tony Lennon: Ridiculous. Money before lives, shame on them. UTV