I’m enjoying the execution of the “plan”. That is these players were going to be binned come what may. I like that we have people in charge that have not allowed sentiment to get in the way of progress. No fucking bomb squad. Methodically addressing the playing staff so that we will be as best prepared as possible for the upcoming season. It’s going to be challenging enough so for us to go in lean and with players that Dean Smith actually wants there is critical to us maintain our spot in the league. I can’t fucking wait for it to all get going.
Whelan says he was proud of his role in Villa's success in getting promotion."I signed there for two years to get them back to the Premier League and it was mission accomplished," he said."It wasn't a surprise to get released, the stage I am at in my career and where Aston Villa want to go so I am proud of what I have done. I think I missed one game for Villa all season, I hurt my shoulder once and was out but I was available for every other game and training session."I didn't know it [playoff] would be my last game, we had quite a few players out of contract, no one wanted to talk about it."The only disappointment for me was that I went away on the Tuesday with the family for a few days, when I landed I had two missed calls, one from a journalist and one from the manager, that was disappointing."I spoke to him then, we congratulated each other, wished each other the best, I have been in the game too long to hold grudges."
Not sure what else Dean Smith could have done, he obviously tried to call Whelan, presumably to arrange a meeting, but if he wasn't around, that's not Dean's fault.
Time to move on. I wonder what sort of salary he’d have been on at Villa?