OPINION
With Aston Villa’s own future yet to be decided for next season – the Villans having another play-off campaign to contend with – it should come as no surprise that the futures of some senior players are up in the air.
Not knowing which division you are going to be playing in makes planning impossible, leaving the four teams fighting for promotion at a disadvantage not only to those in the automatic spots but to those who know they will be in the Championship again next season.
As reported by the Birmingham Mail, it is part of the reason why Ritchie De Laet’s future at the club is uncertain, with a contract that runs out at the end of the season.
While it is said that there are no talks over extending his stay just yet, the report claims that failure in the play-offs once again could result in the Belgian international being kept on as an experienced head.
The 30-year-old has spent the majority of this season on loan at Melbourne City down in Australia, appearing just twice in the League Cup for Villa before his exit, and the reports state that Dean Smith has not even spoken to him since his appointment as manager.
With over 100 Championship and nearly 50 Premier League games under his belt, not to mention his two caps for Belgium, that is a mistake from the manager, who should have realised the worth of having such an experienced head on the club’s books.
Letting him go regardless of which division they find themselves in next season would be a stupid decision. Yes, he might not have played much for the club this year but he would have offered a wise head and cover to those in the first team.
Time will tell what happens, but finding someone as experienced at De Laet for nothing at all is a near impossible task – Smith would be daft to give the opportunity of extending his stay up.