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Gabby Agbonlahor says it is “criminal” how former captain Stiliyan Petrov was rejected for the vacant Aston Villa concert under the age of 18.
Youth team manager Richard Beale left to help Jimmy Shan at Solihull Moors in March, and Petrov threw his hat into the ring to replace him.
However, the academy director Mark Harrison did not believe Petrov was right at the time and instead promoted Beale’s assistant George Boateng. Play-off winner midfielder Mile Jedinak was also invited to start training Villa’s talented teens.
“I’m frustrated by the Aston Villa hierarchy,” Agbonlahor told the Claret & Blue podcast. “Someone of Stan’s importance to Aston Villa and someone of Stan’s experiences in the game. I have never met a more hard-working person.”
“Since coming back from the illness, he has taken every possible course he can think of, from training to becoming a chief executive. All he has been doing is UEFA this, UEFA that.”
“A club like Aston Villa, they are rejecting him for the coaching roles. He is criminal. If that were Chelsea, they would play a role for you. Man City, Man United. You have Nicky Butt there. In Chelsea, Joe Cole and Ashley Cole are there.
Imagine if Stiliyan Petrov was given the job of under-18s? It’s not obvious. The under-18 manager went to Solihull Moors and, if I was someone in Villa, who else would you like to bring Through the next group of under-18 superstars – Stan’s Quality, he has done the hard work.
“I just don’t understand. Is it the academy director who makes the decisions? Can someone superior, the owners, or the CEO make the decision? If you ask any Villa fan who would like to coach those under 18 years, they would like Petrov.
“Before you know it, Stan will get a job elsewhere and Villa would have missed it. I don’t get it.”
Petrov recovered from the edge after being diagnosed with acute leukemia in March 2012 and, four years later, got in top shape to have one last crack at Aston Villa in what would have been the biggest return.
The Bulgarian played with new boss Roberto Di Matteo in the preseason, but the Italian decided not to offer him a deal.
Pal Agbonlahor believes Petrov was worthy of a pay-per-play contract, and said: “I still think what Di Matteo did by not giving him a contract was criminal.”
“Stan did the entire preseason, did a lot to get in shape after his horrible illness, and I think any manager with a heart gives him a pay per game.”
“Stan wouldn’t have bothered about the money. He loved Villa, he let him play and he still had a couple of seasons left. I don’t like Di Matteo anyway, but that’s why I’ll always be upset. Stan wasn’t done yet.
“Now I play with him. Now he has quality. He could have played another two years, holding the center of the field, spraying balls and starting attacks. It’s a shame he didn’t have the opportunity to do it.
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