Former Aston Villa player Mitchell Clark has hit out at the club’s chief executive over his recent remarks about academy players.
Villa CEO Christian Purslow was speaking at an event with members of Aston Villa’s Supporters’ Trust earlier this week and as quoted on the Birmingham Mail, he said:
Frankly, and I’m going to be brutal, 22 year-olds playing in an under-23 team means your system isn’t working.
It means your system is failing because 22-year-old footballers on a payroll at Aston Villa need to be in the first team.
Clark was clearly not happy with the remarks and took to Twitter to provide his reaction. His initial tweet, which now seems to be deleted, said:
The disrespect to the current lads at that age at the club, wow.
He also sent another tweet, which has not been taken down yet to put his opinion forward.
Twitter: @Dpn76 @gazswain @Villa_Trust Like I said I agree to some extent but to say what he saying when there still lads at… https://t.co/FswMklErrX (@mitchellclark99)
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Clark secured a move to fellow Premier League side Leicester City last summer, before joining Port Vale on loan during last month’s transfer window.
As reported on BBC Sport, the 20-year-old started for Villa in the League Cup victory over Wigan Athletic, paying the entire 90 minutes back in 2017.
We agree with his comments that Purslow’s views could be pretty hurtful to some of the current players in the academy that are around the age of 22 as they could shatter their confidence.
The comments also seems to give the impression that those players will be unable to forge a career at the club, which may be a reason why many of them have resorted to leaving the club on loan this season.
