Business as usual for Villa

Aston Villa 0 Southampton 0

Lerner released a statement on Sunday afternoon which is likely to further fuel the speculation that he is ready to call time on his ownership of the Villa Park club.

In it, he said: “As regards my personal role at the club and the steady rumours of a sale, I will address these after the season.

“[Manager] Paul Lambert, [chief executive] Paul Faulkner and I speak daily and remain committed to the immediate job of limiting distraction and confusion in order that Villa have the best chance possible of finishing on a strong note.

Lerner's statement came after Saturday's 0-0 home draw with Southampton which left Villa in 15th place in the table and five points above the drop zone with four games still to play.

He remains steadfastly behind manager Paul Lambert after a week during which coaches Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa were suspended.

Lerner said: “Following the point yesterday at Villa Park, there have been stories about my selling the club.

“On a personal level, I had hoped the emphasis would have been on the amazing effort on the part of our manager and our players to re-group throughout a very difficult week.

“Injuries to Libor [Kozak] and Christian [Benteke], compounded with the early loss of Jores [Okore] and the difficult rehab of Charles [N’Zogbia] have no doubt left Paul with far less to work with than is fair. Still, Paul Lambert has done nothing but work within the parameters I’ve set, put the club first and continue to trust his players.”

However Marc Albrighton insisted Aston Villa had not been adversely affected by the suspensions of Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa. The club announced on Tuesday that assistant boss Culverhouse and head of football operations Karsa had been suspended pending an internal investigation. Although manager Paul Lambert has not shed any further light on the reason for the suspensions, he made no attempt to hide what a difficult week it has been for him.

Lambert was assisted by youth coach Gordon Cowans, who won the European Cup as a player with Villa, and out-of-favour goalkeeper Shay Given.

“Maybe for the manager [it’s been harder] because it’s his close pals but for the players it’s been business as usual,” said Albrighton.

“We’re footballers, we get paid to play, and that’s what we do. Every day we go in, train hard and come Saturday we’ll cross that white line and it’s like nothing’s happened. You just get on with it.

ASTON VILLA: Guzan, Bacuna, Vlaar, Baker, Bertrand, El Ahmadi (Holt 80), Westwood, Delph, Albrighton, Agbonlahor, Weimann (Robinson 85).

SOUTHAMPTON: Boruc, Clyne, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw, Wanyama (Cork 83), Schneiderlin, Ward-Prowse (Gallagher 67), Lallana (Reed 90), Steven Davis, Lambert.

Referee: Lee Mason (England).