31/1 - Yorke stays
Yorke doesn't have to go to Trinidad and Tobago at all.

Villa hope to have some more good news to deliver about leading scorer Dwight Yorke this week. Having successfully kept him at home for the FA Cup tie against West Brom and Sunday's Premiership outing against Newcastle, Villa are now hoping that Yorke will not have to travel out to America to play for Trinidad and Tobago in the Gold Cup tournament as originally planned. Should Yorke be called up, he will almost certainly miss Villa's trip to Derby next weekend and the following weekend's FA Cup tie against Coventry City.

30/1 - Dwight going nowhere
Brian Little is sure Dwight Yorke will not leave for Trinidad & Tobago at all.

Villa manager Brian Little today insisted that Dwight Yorke WOULD be available for Sunday's Sky TV home clash with Newcastle. Little was irritated by a barrage of national newspaper articles claiming the Trinidad and Tobago striker had been refused permission to play for his club and was required at the same time by his country for their Gold Cup campaign in California. But the manager said today: "Our understanding is the same as a few days ago - that Dwight will be able to play for us. We have received verbal assurances to that effect and are waiting for the written confirmation. That hasn't come yet, but very often doesn't arrive until the last few hours. "We still believe Dwight won't have to go to the tournament at all and will also be available for our game at Derby next weekend."

30/1 - Stadium plans confirmed
Villa Park's reconstruction plans have been confirmed.

Villa are continuing to plan for the future both on and off the field at Villa Park. The club have confirmed plans to increase the capacity at Villa Park to 50,000 and also to build a hotel next door. These two projects would cost a total of È21m over three years. While that is a colossal amount of money, the club have pointed out that in years to come they expect income to be rising faster than their wage bill. And while Doug Ellis is keen for the team to challenge on the field he also wants to compete with the best off the park.

29/1 - Townsend attacks
Former Villa skipper Townsend has launched a fierce attack on Savo.

Former Villa skipper Andy Townsend has launched a blistering attack at striker Savo Milosevic over his spitting outburst at the club's supporters and admitted: ``I will be surprised to see him play for the club again.'' Republic of Ireland captain Townsend, a team-mate of Milosevic's for two years before moving to Middlesbrough, described the Yugoslavia international's antics in the 5-0 defeat at Blackburn as ``crazy.'' And he anticipated Milosevic, a current target for Villa's UEFA Cup opponents Atletico Madrid, receiving a rough ride from fans if he ever plays for Villa again. Townsend said: ``I can't understand Savo doing what he did. After all the team was getting well and truly beaten on the day. ``Supporters are entitled to have a moan. Players understand and expect that. It goes with the territory. He should know better than that. ``It's a fact that supporters aren't very forgiving over things like that - and I'll be surprised to see him play for Villa again. What he did was crazy.'' Townsend, speaking on Central Television, added: ``As regards Villa getting rid of him, that's a decision Brian Little has to make but he'll do what's best for the club.''

29/1 - Yorke to stay ...
It's almost for certain that Mighty Dwight will be here for the Newcastle game.

Villa are hoping for a double boost from the Trinidad and Tobago F.A this week. Villa have written agreement that Yorke is free to play against Newcastle on Sunday but they won't be happy until they receive official word from the Caribbean. Villa will also look to get permission to retain his services while his country take part in the Gold Cup tournament in the U.S.A.

28/1 - It's gonna cost ye
Savo Milosevic can't leave for free.

FIFA have confirmed that controversial Aston Villa striker Savo Milosevic will not be able to walk away from Villa Park in the summer for nothing. Milosevic, slapped on the transfer list last week by manager Brian Little, claimed that he had the right to walk out of the club on a free. But FIFA say that Villa's 1995 contract with the player, stating that they have a one-year option on him when his contract runs out, is valid. Milosevic cannot leave without Villa's say so.

28/1 - Atletico pulls out
Savo's spitting incident was way too much for the Spaniards.

Savo Milosevic's possible move to Atletico Madrid has been scuppered by the Serbian's spitting incident at Blackburn Rovers eleven days ago. The Spanish giants say the whole of their nation was disgusted by Milosevic's actions and have pulled out of any move to sign the unsettled striker even though he was placed on the transfer list by Brian Little last week. Atletico boss Raddy Antic, speaking through his interpretor son Dusan, who works for the club, said: 'There is no way we would sign him now. The fact that this incident was reported all over Spain means we would have absolutely no interest in having him here. 'The spitting incident against Blackburn was appalling. No-one could quite believe that a player could spit at his own fans.' 'There have been radio reports that our president Jesus Gil said the club wanted Milosevic. I can confirm that this is simply not the case and the president has issued a statement to deny any interest in Milosevic. If anyone reads that he is supposed to be joining Atletico they are very much mistaken. He is absolutely not coming here.' Antic, a hero to Luton Town fans for scoring the goal which helped them to survive relegation from the top flight in 1983, added: 'There has been some interest in him from us, but not now. After everything that has happened this club is not interested in him. It is impossible he will move here.' Milosevic, who has often expressed a desire to leave Villa Park, recently signed an agreement with Atletico that he would join them at the end of the season, but Villa ruined that possible move by exercising the option of a one-year extension to his contract. The Yugoslav international is also believed to have turned down a possible move to struggling Italian giants Napoli in favour of a link-up with fellow countryman Antic at Madrid's Vicente Calderon stadium. But now all deals are off following the spitting incident, which has led to Villa fans calling for the striker to be sacked. Instead, Little partially quelled a fans rebellion last week by placing Milosevic on the transfer list.

27/1 - In the green
Despite questionable league form, Villa is doing great financially.

Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis has backed manager Brian Little despite the club's disappointing league form so far this season. The UEFA Cup quarter-finalists were tipped to be among the frontrunners for the Premiership title after splashing out a club record £7million for Stan Collymore last summer. The club made an operating profit of £2.2million - as revealed today in the first half-year figures since their flotation in April - but Ellis has warned Little he expects better. ``On the playing side, whilst there have been some very good performances, particularly in the UEFA Cup, my satisfaction has been somewhat dampened by a disappointment with our inconsistent league form,'' said Ellis. ``Perhaps our experience underlines the current strength of the Premiership and the need to be able to perform consistently at high levels in order to challenge for honours. ``Nevertheless, I am confident our manager, Brian Little, and his team will overcome these setbacks and repeat their successes of earlier seasons.'' The Midlands club, who have also announced plans to expand the capacity of Villa Park to 50,000, kicked off their first six months as a public company with an increase in profits. Higher ticket prices and more income from selling broadcasting rights helped boost turnover by 27% to £11.8million in the six months to November 30. A new 600-seat corporate entertainment centre also added to higher pre-tax profits, which came in at £2.19million. At the same stage last year the club made a loss before tax of £3.7million after spending £5.4million on transfers. Shareholders will receive an interim dividend of 2.2p.

26/1 - Yorke might stay
Dwight Yorke might be able to delay his departure for Trinidad.

Dwight Yorke may be available to continue his Aston Villa partnership with Stan Collymore against Newcastle next Sunday. The Midland club are hoping the 27-year-old striker will be allowed to play in the Premiership rather than join Trinidad and Tobago in the United States for an international tournament. Villa have been given a verbal promise he can remain in England.

25/1 - Reserves still going strong
After being promoted last season, the reserves handle things splendidly in the Prem.

Villa are currently third in the Pontins Premier Division table, currently 8 points behind leaders Leeds United. Villa will get an opportunity to start closing the gap on Wednesday when they take on Derby County at Pride Park.

23/1 - One of those weeks
Brian Little has declared the past week a real bummer.

Brian Little has been reflecting on one of the worst weeks of his managerial career. He has said; "It has been one of the few time in my 28 years in the game when you just look back and just wish you weren't there." Avoiding the Milosevic incident, Little has had enough on his plate trying to come to terms with the consequences of last weekend's defeat. "I don't think I've ever talked about one game for as long as we did last weekend. We had a meeting at half time, a massive meeting at the end and an even bigger one on Monday." He continued' "Lots of people have held up their hands since. Hopefully there were too many disappointments and below par performances for us not to have sorted one or two things out." Hopefully Little right.

22/1 - Apology from Savo
Savo Milosevic says sorry for what he did - to most people.

Aston Villa striker Savo Milosevic has broken his silence over his weekend spitting controversy at Blackburn - and claims his outburst was only aimed at the section of fans who have constantly targeted him for criticism since he came to the club. Milosevic has been transfer-listed by manager Brian Little over the Ewood Park incident which saw him spit in the direction of travelling Villa fans after a glaring miss when his side were already dead and buried at 5-0 down. But the Yugoslav international was at pains to point out that his action ``was not aimed at the majority of Villa fans'' who have been ``magnificent towards me since I came here.'' And that is why the 24-year-old player is refusing to make a universal 'across the board' type of apology - as that would include ``the fans who have had a go at me since I came here.'' Milosevic said: ``I think this is the first bad thing I have done since I came to Aston Villa. I realise it was wrong but from my point of view it wasn't an act against all Villa supporters. ``People have been expecting me to apologise but the fans have to realise what I did was not intended against them all. ``One section of supporters have had a go at me since I came here and I recognised some of their faces in the crowd at Blackburn - and I reacted. That group have never liked me since I came to the club. ``Most fans still believe I am okay. I hope they understand what I did wasn't aimed at them all. ``Of course, the fact we were losing 5-0 didn't help. I was angry. Some people don't care but I was frustrated. I am that kind of man. ``I was disappointed to be put on the transfer list but I have to expect some kind of punishment for what I did.'' Milosevic must now wait to see if Little will include him in his plans for Saturday's FA Cup derby with West Bromwich Albion at Villa Park. Milosevic said: ``If Brian Little picks me for Saturday I don't see there will be a problem because it's my job to play football and that's what I will do. It will be difficult for me to pick me and I understand that. ``I am sorry if I offended most Villa fans. What I did wasn't meant towards the majority of them. It was just those having a go but I do accept responsibility for my actions. It was my fault.''

21/1 - Brian treated fairly?
Fans are screaming for Brian and Savo's head.

The talk of the mailing list at present is - not surprisingly - that Brian Little has lost it and that Savo should never play again. This (of course) with a few exceptions. Your webmaster happens to be one of these. I for one don't feel Brian is being treated fairly. I took a peek at our fixtures, and decided to come up with win-draw-lose stats for the games so far, to get a better overview of the season till now.

Period	Fixtures	W	D	L	Percentages
9 Aug - 30 Sep	11	4	2	5	36% - 18% - 46%
4 Oct - 29 Nov	11	3	3	5	27% - 27% - 46%
6 Dec - 17 Jan	10	4	4	2	40% - 40% - 20%

I won't comment on these figures, they speak for themselves, really. And don't forget that the last two losses have been at Man Utd and Blackburn, venues on which most Premier League outfits have lost this season. Some people will now tell me that "Statistics will never show everything!". To this webmaster, stats speak a whole lot more reason than the people who bitch about the manager every time things go wrong.

21/1 - Savo to leave
Savo Milosevic has been transfer listed following the spitting incident.

Savo Milosevic has been put on the transfer list by Aston Villa after allegedly spitting at the club's fans. The Yugoslavia striker apparently spat towards his own supporters after being booed during the 5-0 defeat at Blackburn last Saturday. Manager Brian Little released a statement which read: 'After speaking with the chairman, the board of directors and the player concerned, and after studying the video evidence, the player regrets his actions. 'But they are unacceptable to Aston Villa football club he has therefore been placed on the transfer list with immediate effect. I decided on my action to protect the club.' Little was drawn into the controversy for his initial 'blame me' response, claiming players' actions were the manager's responsibility. But he insisted he had gone down the right road with his troubled striker who cost £3.5million from Partizan Belgrade two years ago. Little said: 'I have been accused of acting too slowly by people who think you can throw these things together. But it takes time to go through the proper channels. 'It was all threatening to get out of control when I was anxious everybody should be focusing on our FA Cup tie with West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.' Little's response has been applauded by Villa supporters. Dave Woodhall, editor of the Villa fanzine Heroes and Villains, said: 'Putting Milosevic on the transfer list will placate most of the fans. But it will be difficult for him to ever be accepted again. A lot of credit should go to Brian Little and Doug Ellis who have put the honour of the football club possibly ahead of their own feelings. It's a shame such a fine footballer will be remembered for how he fell out with the club.'

20/1 - Davis to go
Neil Davis is about to leave Villa Park.

Reserve team striker Neil Davis is set to leave the club in the summer, after a frustrating seven year spell at Villa Park. Davis joined the club from non league Redditch United in 1991 but has yet to make a start in the premiership. He did seem on the verge of playing against Leeds over the Christmas period with Collymore and Yorke absent, but unluckily he went down with a knee injury and tonsilitis. Davis has also seen compatriots Darren Byfield and Richard Walker promoted to the first team squad to further damage his prospects. Last season he nearly joined Chesterfield and this term a move to Tranmere fell through. His current deal expires in the summer and he feels the time is right for a new challenge.

19/1 - Savo out!
Nothing less suffices, if you ask 'Heroes & Villans' editor Dave Woodhall.

The editor of a leading Aston Villa fanzine is calling for the club to sack striker Savo Milosevic after he allegedly spat at supporters during the FA Carling Premiership match with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. Dave Woodhall, who edits the monthly publication `Heroes and Villains' believes that 24-year-old Milosevic ``should never be allowed to play for the club again.'' The Yugoslav international came in for harsh criticism from a section of Villa fans during the 5-0 mauling by Roy Hodgson's side and there were chants of ``you're not fit to wear the shirt.'' Milosevic allegedly lost his cool and spat in the direction of the area of the stadium housing Villa fans deep in the second half shortly after he had been guilty of squandering a close range opportunity. He had to be restrained by fellow Villa striker Dwight Yorke and Blackburn central defender Colin Hendry. Villa fans phoned a local radio station in Birmingham after the match to voice their anger at Milosevic's alleged actions. Villa boss Brian Little again refused to comment but Woodhall believes the Midlands outfit have to take action against Milosevic to appease fans. He stormed: ``Quite simply, Savo Milosevic should never play for Aston Villa again. What he has effectively done via his actions is to have assaulted his own supporters during a match. ``If it had been the other way around and a supporter had spat on Milosevic they would have been thrown out of the ground and subsequently banned from Villa Park for a very long time.'' Milosevic was also booed by a section of fans during last Wednesday's FA Cup encounter with Portsmouth at Villa Park despite scoring the winning goal. On that occasion he admitted that the criticism was justified after Villa had limped to a 1-0 win over the First Division's bottom side. But he was unavailable to comment on events at Ewood Park and it remains to be seen whether Little opts to take the matter further.

19/1 - Curcic happy
Curcic is in no hurry to leave Villa Park.

Sasa Curcic, Aston Villa's £4million midfielder, is hoping to win back his place in the squad at Villa Park after the collapse of a move to the Turkish club Besiktas. The Yugoslav international has not figured in the first-team since manager Brian Little revealed that he could leave in a cut-price deal last month. But the former Partizan Belgrade and Bolton Wanderers ace said: ``I am happy to return to Villa. ``I'm not disappointed that the deal did not go through. I will now give my best for Aston Villa even if it means that I do not get into the side. ``I will still be at Aston Villa at the end of the season, that is certain.'' Curcic's move to Besiktas, for a fee in the region of £1million, could be revived in the summer. He will lose his work permit at the end of the season as he has not played in enough games to have it renewed.

18/1 - Little blames himself
Brian Little took most of the blame for the embarrassing performance yesterday.

Aston Villa manager Brian Little felt his attacking selection of Dwight Yorke. Stan Collymore and Savo Milosevic had contributed to their 5-0 defeat at Blackburn. ``Playing the system that I did meant we were well beaten.'' ``In other games it has done quite well for us, but you have to give Blackburn a lot of credit because I thought they were bright and very sharp. ``It was not very enjoyable and I'm very disappointed. ``We were well beaten. Every now and again we get a defeat that stays in your belly for a long time and hopefully that will stay in our bellies for a long time. ``All I can say is that as a group we will work hard and try and win our next game of football.''

16/1 - Yorke delays departure
Mighty Dwight will stay for the West Brom game.

Dwight Yorke is to delay his departure for international duty later this month in order to play for Villa in next Saturday's FA Cup 4th round tie with WBA at Villa Park. Yorke is to play in the FIFA sanctioned Gold Cup Tournament for Trinidad and Tobago, and it was originally thought he'd be missing for four Villa matches. Now, it's been revealed that he will be available for the cup tie against Albion before flying out to the Caribbean.

15/1 - Albion game moved
The West Brom game has been moved on request from the Birmingham Police.

Villa have announced that on police advice, their FA Cup fourth round tie at Villa Park against WBA a week on Saturday will kick off at 1.00 pm. This is due to the fact that Birmingham City are at home to Stockport in the FA Cup the same afternoon, and police fear problems with supervising two sets of travelling supporters, albeit that Albion's fans haven't got far to come.

15/1 - Little shocked by booing
Brian Little felt the post-Portsmouth booing was unjustified.

Aston Villa manager Brian Little admitted he was surprised by the reaction of supporters during his side's unconvincing FA Cup third round replay triumph over Portsmouth at Villa Park. A single goal from Savo Milosevic was enough to set up a Midlands derby with West Brom at the same venue in 10 days' time. But the Villa fans vented their frustrations at a below-par performance and booed Little at the final whistle. Little said: ``I was surprised by the volume of the booing but the expectancy level is high in football and you've got to accept that. ``In 20 years in football you have good and bad days. This wasn't one of the most enjoyable and you just have to get on with things. ``But I'm pleased to be in the fourth round. I would have settled for that when we were 2-0 down in the first match at Portsmouth and looked like we were going out. ``We should have scored more goals and made lives easier for ourselves. We certainly had the chances. ``But Portsmouth showed great spirit and a lot of determination. They have had off-the-field problems but often when footballers are in a corner they come out fighting.''

14/1 - New Yorkie blow
Now that he has recovered from his injury, he's called in for international duties.

Aston Villa manager Brian Little is reeling from the news that he will be without joint leading scorer Dwight Yorke for four matches in January and February because of international commitments. Trinidad and Tobago have called up Yorke for the Gold Cup tournament in the United States and have informed Villa they require his services from January 23 to February 15. That will rule Yorke out of an FA Cup fourth round clash with West Brom or Stoke if Villa win Wednesday's replay with Portsmouth, plus the Premiership matches with Newcastle and Derby. In addition, he will miss the Premiership match with Barnsley on February 14 or the fifth round of the FA Cup on the same date if Villa progress into the last 16 of the competition. And, with the tournament being FIFA-ranked, Villa are powerless to try and hold onto the services of Yorke.

14/1 - New rules, please!
Brian Little has called for a review of the non-EU player rules.

Villa manager Brian Little is calling for the government to change the rules regarding non-EEC players securing work permits for Britain. He believes it is time to review the current criteria whereby players normally have to play 75% of games for their club each season to automatically qualify for a new permit. Little, who will lose Yugoslav Sasa Curcic because of the rules, said: 'The game is multinational now and maybe we have to change things here.'

12/1 - Curcic transfer mystery
Curcic to leave or not to leave - that's the question.

Sasa Curcic's future at Aston Villa was clouded in mystery and confusion last night. According to Villa manager Brian Little the Yugoslavia midfielder was flying to Turkey for transfer talks over the weekend with Besiktas manager John Toshack. But last night both Toshack and the player denied any meeting had taken place or ever been planned. Toshack said: 'I had no arrangements to meet anyone.' Curcic said he had remained in Birmingham, adding: 'I was never going to Turkey. I haven't a clue about these reports.'

12/1 - Boz wins award
Mark Bosnich has been named Oceania POTY.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Mark Bosnich was named Oceania Footballer of the Year for 1997 today. The Australian, who celebrates his 26th birthday tomorrow, polled nearly double the votes of joint runners-up Stan Lazaridis, West Ham's Aussie winger, and Christian Karembeu from New Caledonia. Southampton and Australia forward Robbie Slater, who has won the award twice before, was fourth. Slater, 33, who announced his retirement from international football after the recent Confederations Cup in Saudi Arabia, was narrowly beaten to the Oceania Player of the Decade award by New Zealand striker Wynton Rufer. Bosnich is the first keeper to win the Oceania Confederation honour.

5/1 - We should've won
The Portsmouth manager wants TV evidence to show offside was justified.

Portsmouth coach Terry Fenwick called for TV replays to be used for controversial decisions after seeing Aston Villa secure a late FA Cup draw at Fratton Park with two hotly disputed goals. Pompey made a mockery of their league position at the bottom of Division One when they went 2-0 up after 38 minutes with two deflected goals from Australian Craig Foster. But their Premiership visitors pulled a goal back through Steve Staunton four minutes before the break and then equalised in the dying minutes when Simon Grayson broke through to secure a replay. Portsmouth players and supporters were left appealing in vain for offside after both Villa goals. Although Fenwick vowed afterwards that the tie is not yet dead, he must know Pompey have lost a golden opportunity to make it into the fourth round for only the seventh time in 14 years. He said: ``We would have won but for two poor decisions from the linesman. ``I have seen them on television, and both goals were offside. It's something we've got to live with but it's a bitter pill to swallow. ``More and more the question is being asked whether there should be a TV link-up and a fourth official. ``It's got to the situation where there's so much money involved that we have to act. ``We see on television week in and week out linesmen and referees seeing themselves make mistakes. ``I am not having a row. I think they need help, and we need better decisions on a regular basis. I believe that but for that we would be in the fourth round on our own now.'' Fenwick is not beaten yet, though, and vowed: ``The tie is far from dead. I think we proved to ourselves today that we are well capable of turning Villa over at Villa Park.''

1/1 - Staunton reaches for the sky
Steve Staunton is a wanted man, and he knows it.

Steve Staunton starts the New Year destined to join the ranks of soccer millionaires. From today, the 28-year-old Aston Villa defender is free to talk any of the clubs from the Premiership and the Continent who are queuing up for his services - even at the cool £5million deal he seeks. The Republic of Ireland international, playing the best football of his career, is determined to cash in on his opportunity of a free transfer when his current contract finishes at the end of the season. He is looking for a £1m signing-on fee and wages of around £20,000 a week, and Villa manager Brian Little has conceded that the fight to keep him has now become tougher. Little said: 'We are entering a new era for football in this country and I can understand Steve wanting to test the waters to see what is happening. 'We are still talking to convince him to re-sign for us and he is aware of our feelings.' Staunton, who has a solicitor acting on his behalf, said: 'Anything I have to say on the subject of my future will be in the privacy of the manager's office.'