"It's a slur on the club. I feel for [club owner] Randy Lerner and the fans of Aston Villa but the players need to show some respect for themselves and the football club."

"We acted very swiftly. We're very disappointed. We won't tolerate that kind of behaviour.

"If selected I think the most important thing is that they've been punished. They've shown a bit of humility which is the least we can expect.

"It happens at every club. It happens at even the top clubs. It's the culture of one pint too many. I think it reflects badly on Randy Lerner, the club, myself and most importantly the players themselves. They owe us. They have to give us a performance that we will be proud of."

Alex McLeish on James Collins, Chris Herd and Fabian Delph.



"I'm sorry for what has happened and I take responsibility for my actions. It does not show me in a very good light and does not put the club in a very good light.

"I know I should not have been out in a club with my wife after the end-of-season dinner at that time in the morning and I was wrong to be in that position.

"It was a misunderstanding and was resolved quickly but I understand how it looks and I apologise for that. As a senior, experienced player, I understand I am in a position of responsibility.

"I let myself get into a position in which I didn't act responsibly and I apologise for this. It was Monday night, it was early in the week and I didn't have training the next day.

"But I know I've let myself down, I've let the club down, I've let the manager down and most of all I've let down the fans of Aston Villa, who have been great to me."

James Collins.


"I would like to apologise for what happened and I apologise for being out at that time. My actions were out of character. Even if I felt at the time that the prior situation inside the nightclub had not been dealt with properly, it was no one's intention to be involved in any trouble.

"In fact, we were accompanied by our girlfriends and wives. But I should not have acted in the manner in which I did. I'll do everything I can to make it up to the club and the fans, as they have both been fantastic since I've joined the team.

"My immediate aim is to help the team to finish the season strongly and to secure our position in the Premier League.”

Chris Herd.


"I'm sorry for being out on Monday night, the early hours of Tuesday morning and I apologise to the club for this – the fans, the chairman, the manager and my colleagues.

"I am injured, I won't be fit again until pre-season and I probably thought that going out would not carry any consequences. I was sober, I was in control of my actions and I did try to calm down the situation. I didn't hit out or strike anyone but I should not have been there and I was wrong to be in this position.”

Fabian Delph.


"This season we've taken that wee plunge into the reduction of the wages, it has hopefully helped the finances a little bit. But it has put us through the mill, there's no doubt about that.

"But with planning we can rise. At the clubs I've worked with before, with proper planning, I've done well. If I went through that [this season], I've got to have a crack at the big time, when we can try and enhance the quality of the squad.

"I don't know. There's not been any indication that we need an urgent meeting. I guess Randy [Lerner, the owner] will be pretty pleased with today's outcome because he's been very supportive in his texts over the last few days, which indicates great support. But you never know. I would expect to be here next season and I hope to win over the dissenting Villa fans. But I've got to get a consistently winning team on the pitch.

"I didn't say that I had my hands tied behind my back. But what I did say is that I bought into a project with Randy Lerner and the board and Aston Villa Football Club that I would work with this club to try and reduce those wages. There might be some pain along the way with that, and sure enough that has come to the fore. But I would like to think that I have showed my leadership and stood up in times of adversity.

“I’ve taken a lot of weight on my shoulders this season and I was happy to take the pressure off of the players. I'm not doing that again next season. They'd better get their finger out."

Alex McLeish.