Premiership: Ginola offers olive branch to Villa

David Ginola's advisor has hinted the player is ready to drop his threatened legal action against Aston Villa.

Ginola was understood to be looking for a free transfer and a substantial pay-off as compensation for alleged comments about his fitness by John Gregory.

The former Newcastle and Tottenham star had even enlisted the help of Cherie Booth to help his cause.

But Ginola's advisor Chantal Stanley admitted that the events of September 11 and the terrorist attacks on America had helped to put things in perspective in terms of the ongoing battle between Ginola and Villa.

Ginola had been scheduled to stage a press conference at which he was expected to give his side of events, but that has been shelved.

Stanley said: "What happened on September 11 taught us all a lesson. Football is only a game and at the moment there are far more important things to worry about.

"The ball is still in Aston Villa's court - but maybe it is time to let sleeping dogs lie.

"At the moment Villa are near the top of the Premiership and David is playing in a team that is doing very well.

"The other factor in all of this is that the comments that John Gregory is alleged to have said appeared in newspapers - and the club deny he ever made those comments."