COLLYWOBBLER

I FEAR the pain is going to set in for Aston Villa after they missed out in the play-offs.

They should have gone up and now have only one year left of parachute payments – at a greatly-reduced level – have the biggest wage bill in the division by far, and are spending big money on players who have played well in spells.

I feel there has to be a massive financial recalibration and some serious thinking done by billionaire owner Dr Tony Xia, who needs to tell the supporters what the club’s direction will be over the next two or three years.

But these are worrying financial times for Villa.