Free agent defender James Collins has torn up his playing contract with Aston Villa hours after signing it, according to the Daily Mirror.
The newspaper claims that the 35-year-old has been training with the club under both Steve Bruce and Dean Smith in order to earn a short term deal, signing a £10,000-a-week contract until the end of January which had not yet been confirmed.
However, he promptly injured his calf in training the morning after singing the deal. The former Wales international then tore up his paperwork rather than have them pay for a sidelined player.
The Championship side are said to be highly impressed by the veteran’s selfless gesture, and he will be given every chance to earn another deal after the New Year.
OPINION
You don’t read stores like this every day, do you? It’s fantastic to see a footballer hand over money that he would lawfully have received because he doesn’t feel that he deserves it. Collins is aware that the club would be paying him money for nothing and, while he could rightfully have taken their cash, he preferred to tear up the contract rather than profit off his own injury. It shows remarkable character that isn’t always evident in football these days. It’s good that the club have responded in kind by giving him a chance to earn another deal once he’s back to full fitness. Collins is past his best, it’s true, but he would be a solid addition as cover for first choice centre backs James Chester and Axel Tuanzebe. Collins is clearly a man of morals and he also has a great affinity with the Villans, so it would be nice to see him pull the famous shirt on once again. Let’s hope he gets the opportunity to do that in the near future.