Duo can’t be shifted from club – Bruce
VILLA boss Steve Bruce has confirmed the grim truth about Ross McCormack and Micah Richards, admitting: ‘You can’t shift them’.
Villa have been boosted by the timely cash investment by new sugar daddies Nasser Sawiris and Wes Edens after Tony Xia’s financial troubles.
But McCormack and Richards continue to be a drain on the club as they battle to stay on the right side of Financial Fair Play regulations.
Bruce admits waiting until the duo’s lucrative contracts have expired might be the only way to get them off the payroll.
Neither player is likely to be considered for selection any time soon and both have been conspicuous by their absence during the pre-season friendlies.
McCormack was left behind when Villa went to Portugal for a warm weather tour earlier this month after falling out of favour with Bruce.
Richards has not played a competitive game for Villa since Bruce’s first match in October 2016 after struggling to prove his fitness.
The pair are among the club’s highest earners at a time when even the new mega wealthy money men will have to trim the wage bill for FFP.
McCormack has two years left on his contract, while Richards’ deal still has a year left to run. Asked how Villa can shift their unwanted players, Bruce replied: “You can’t. The only time you can shift them is when somebody wants them.
“Obviously we’ve got some big earners at the club.
“What’s important is we keep the ones we want and of course there will be a few who ultimately move on.
“But sometimes when they’re on big salaries then you’ve got to be patient and wait for their contracts to run out,” he added.