Duo in training ground bust-up

Last updated : 20 December 2002 By VillaMAD

Villa boss Graham Taylor declined to deny the fight at the club's Bodymoor Heath training ground earlier this week.

However, one dressing-room source said: "It was quite a fracas, when a challenge for the ball turned into something quite nasty.

"Blows were swapped between Alpay and Juan Pablo. It had all the makings of Lennox Lewis against Mike Tyson until the pair of them were pulled apart.

"To put it quite simply, the rest of the lads don't want to be named on the same team sheet as Alpay. He is picking up his wages, but all he does in exchange for the money is train.

"The others are busy trying to push Villa up the table towards a more respectable position without his assistance. So it is no surprise that they don't like Alpay's stance one little bit."

Alpay has been seeking a move away from Villa Park for some time and it is understood that he has lost the respect of a number of Villa his team-mates.