Soccer

Aston Villa cancel their Player of the Year awards

‘In the current circumstances, we are sure our supporters will understand’

Aston Villa fans hold up a banner in protest during last weekend’s defeat. Photograph: Ed Sykes/Reuters
Aston Villa fans hold up a banner in protest during last weekend’s defeat. Photograph: Ed Sykes/Reuters
Wed Apr 13 2016 - 13:13

Aston Villa have scrapped their annual Player of the Year awards, as they prepare to face their first relegation since 1987.

The club - bottom of the Premier League since the start of November - could have their fate confirmed before Saturday’s game against Manchester United, if Norwich avoid defeat to Sunderland in the early kick-off.

The gruelling season - complete with off-pitch controversies involving Gabriel Agbonlahor and Joleon Lescott - has led to widescale protests against the owner Randy Lerner, with fans left further infuriated when Villa chose last week to launch a rebrand of the club badge.

A Villa statement said: “The club will not be holding its annual Player of the Year Awards at the conclusion of this season. In the current circumstances, we are sure our supporters will understand.”

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Villa - currently looking for a new manager to replace Remi Garde, who left the club at the end of March - this week warned staff there will be job cuts following relegation, while more difficult headlines followed a 19-man brawl that broke out in the club’s Under-21s win over West Ham on Monday.

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