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Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor has played down reports of a
rift with striker Darius Vassell over a new contract. Vassell,
who still has 18 months left on his current deal, is still to
put pen to paper after nine months of negotiations which began
before the World Cup finals.
The England player has been out of form recently and was
substituted at half-time at Liverpool on Saturday after a poor
display.
But Taylor has dismissed claims that team policies - he had
previously dropped Vassell after a poor show against Manchester
City - were linked with the contract situation.
Taylor insisted: ``Any team selection, or substitution of
Darius, has got absolutely nothing to do with contract
negotiations.
``Anyone who suggests otherwise is completely wide of the
mark. It's not correct to suggest the two things are in any way
connected.
``The last thing that either myself or Darius wants to do at
this stage of the season is to get involved in speculation such
as this.''
Taylor had stressed before Christmas that there was no panic
over Vassell not having yet committed his long-term future to
the midlands club - and his stance has remained unaltered.
He said: ``I have gone on record already has saying there is
no panic regarding the contract and nothing has changed.'' |
