London: Aston Villa on Tuesday suspended Paul Lambert’s long-serving deputies, Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa, in a desperate attempt to revive the club’s battle against relegation but insist the manager’s job is safe.
Villa have disciplined assistant manager Culverhouse and head of football operations Karsa after a breakdown in Lambert’s relationship with the pair.
Villa’s European Cup-winning midfielder Gordon Cowans and reserve goalkeeper Shay Given have temporarily been promoted to first-team duties.
Lambert has barely been on speaking terms with Culverhouse or Karsa for weeks while it is alleged they have also been unpopular with the players, and Villa have made the decision in an attempt to lift the club for the final five games of the season.
With relations already strained, and the atmosphere frequently uncomfortable on the training ground, the tipping point came on Saturday when there was a heated confrontation in the dressing room before the defeat at Crystal Palace.
Lambert is understood to have clashed with Culverhouse minutes before the game kicked off, later hinting at problems “behind the scenes”, with Villa informing the pair to stay away from the club’s Bodymoor Heath base this week.
There have been persistent rumours over an alleged bust-up between Culverhouse and Cowans nearly a fortnight ago but Villa sources insist a combination of factors are behind the suspensions, culminating in the incident at Selhurst Park.
Culverhouse also clashed with supporters after the Boxing Day defeat by Palace at Villa Park, launching a foul-mouthed tirade at fans seated behind the home dugout.
Randy Lerner, the club’s owner, and chief executive Paul Faulkner have both approved the move and while the departures would suggest Lambert’s position has been weakened, his job is not under any threat despite a run of four successive defeats.
Villa have launched an internal investigation and intend to reach a final decision before the end of the season, with the pair’s exits likely to be confirmed, leaving Lambert almost certainly looking for new back-room staff this summer.
The players were told the news after training yesterday, with Lambert and Faulkner both at the team meeting.
The surprise split ends a long association between the trio. Lambert worked with Culverhouse and Karsa at former clubs Norwich, Colchester and Wycombe Wanderers and they joined him at Villa when he was appointed in June 2012.
Cowans’s promotion will prove a popular move to a disenchanted fan base but Given’s new role is ironic considering the former Republic of Ireland international has been frozen out by Lambert since his arrival.
Lambert said: “I’m delighted to have Gordon and Shay to assist me in preparing the team for Saturday, which is what the whole group is focused on.”
Given has been taking his Uefa coaching badges and is keen to take on a coaching role when he retires. The 37-year-old returned from a loan spell in the Championship with Middlesbrough at the end of February admitting, “Aston Villa want me out of the door”.
But now he will be joining Lambert in the dugout for the first time on coaching duties this Saturday, for the crucial game against Southampton, as Villa attempt to move away from the relegation zone. Given said: “As players, it’s important that each and every one of us take responsibility right now and I’m delighted to play my part in helping the manager and the team go and try to win on Saturday.” Villa are only four points above the relegation places and Lambert has faced heavy fire from supporters after another disappointing campaign.
