COLLINS RIPS UP VILLA DEAL

JAMES COLLINS has ripped up a £50,000 deal at Aston Villa after injuring himself just an hour after signing it.

The free agent defender (right) has been training with the Championship side this term after leaving West Ham.

Collins, 35, played in a friendly against Yeovil to press his claims and Villa manager Dean Smith offered a £10,000-a-week deal until the end of January to secure cover at the back.

But Mirror Sport believes Collins went out to train later that morning and injured his calf. Smith is willing to give Collins a chance to earn another contract and said: “James has picked up a calf injury and hasn’t trained.” EVERTON’S new stadium will have a 52,000 capacity with the potential to rise to 62,000.

And two of the stands at the new Bradleymoore Dock home will be constructed with the ability to convert them into safe standing.

Goodison Park is limited to 39,000 and Everton feel 52,000 is the optimum capacity to satisfy demand for season ticket-holders and ensure a full stadium.

Colin Chong, stadium development director, said: “It is important to stress that this is our proposed capacity. It’s important to emphasise that the final capacity and design will be subject to further engagement and consultation.

“We believe our approach is the right one as it is commercially and financially sustainable and will mean that, in the long term, we will be able to increase the capacity should there be a demand and requirement to do so.

“Extensive work has gone into assessing the optimum capacity at the point of opening to create the best possible atmosphere for fans and, in turn, supporting the players on the pitch.”

The stadium will be future proofed so two stands could be converted to safe standing if regulations are changed.

The club hope to submit detailed plans in the second half of next year and move into the stadium for the start of the 2022-23 season.

Stadium architect Dan Meis said: “We know from all of the conversations we’ve had with fans that they want a stadium that is atmospheric, feels like a fortress and supports the players on the pitch.

“They also want the club to be ambitious for the future.

“We believe this proposed approach to design and capacity meets those aspirations.”

OWNER Dejphon Chansiri has put a huge £200million price tag on Sheffield Wednesday.The Owls chief is selling up after angry fans turned on him for not sacking manager Jos Luhukay as the Hillsborough club nosedive towards the Championship drop zone.“I feel many want me to leave,” said Chansiri.

THINKING BIGGER Goodison Park is expanding and the Everton bosses are looking to the future