What promises to be a rather eventful summer at Villa Park officially got underway late last week with the release of 10 players, including John Carew, Nigel Reo Coker and Robert Pires. Next on the agenda is the contract situations of Supporters’ and Players’ Player of the Season Stewart Downing and winger-turned-playmaker Ashley Young. From there, additional players will have to be signed to offset the departures and improve the club. And, oh yes, then there is the matter of the head coach.

It is always revealing when a player speaks out about the state of affairs at his football club. It doesn’t really matter how candid he is. The fact that he is voicing his opinion - that he is either frustrated enough to go public with his thoughts or sees himself as some sort of representative of his teammates - is enough of an indication that something isn’t right, that the club is somehow dysfunctional.