Gabby Agbonlahor has labelled Aston Villa’s decision not to award Ashley Young a new contract as a ‘shambles’ following the conclusion of the 22/23 Premier League season.
The former Aston Villa striker, who played alongside Ashley Young under Martin O’Neill, watched Unai Emery’s men secure European football on Sunday for the first time in over a decade.
Ashley Young was part of the last Villa team that went on a European tour, but he won’t be joining the next trip, to the annoyance and anger of Agbonlahor on Twitter, who wrote: ‘Shambles letting Young go’, added with an angry emoji.
Following the conclusion of Villa’s win over Brighton at the weekend, Young made his feelings clear to the Villa Park crowd after the full-time whistle that he wants to stay on.
The home crowd cheered that call and many were expecting the versatile player to sign a new one-year contract.
But many Villa fans were left shocked and saddened by the club’s call to part ways with a player that has represented them on 247 occasions over two spells.
ASHLEY YOUNG – ONE OF VILLA’S PLAYER OF THE SEASON
What will hurt Villa fans is that they are now back on the European trail, but Young won’t be part of that journey.
Fans have to accept Emery’s call, but what is surprising is that he has been one of his side’s best players this season, yet they have let him go.
Douglas Luiz was the one who won the Supporters Player of the Year, but the top three votes probably went to Luiz, Tyrone Mings and then Young.
That’s some going for a player who will turn 38 in July because he hasn’t looked out of place at all, under Dean Smith, Steven Gerrard or now Emery.
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