Hostile reception in wait for Villa

A week on from their slump into the Championship being confirmed, Villa will host Southampton with the club in even greater turmoil than last Saturday, when defeat at Manchester United sealed their fate.

And Villa's beleaguered players will have to face a volatile crowd reeling from another week of shocks.

Since leaving Old Trafford, Villa have suffered two high-profile boardroom resignations, suspended their club captain over embarrassing off-field antics, angered supporters with plans to close a section of Villa Park next season and seen dressing-room splits erupt into the public domain.

The only light at the end of the tunnel for Villa supporters is the prospect of a takeover, with several interested consortia believed to be in negotiations to buy the club from US-based owner Randy Lerner.

Yet that possibility will not stop planned protests from fans and the inevitable backlash towards players that will come with Saturday's game.

Supporters will unfurl critical banners and make their feelings known, especially towards Lerner after his fall-out with David Bernstein and Mervyn King prompted the two recently-appointed directors to stand down this week.

That came just a day before the club suspended Gabriel Agbonlahor, who was already frozen out of first-team plans and placed on a fitness programme when he was photographed just hours after relegation was confirmed, apparently at a party involving alcohol and 'laughing gas'.

- Deaf ears -

Agbonlahor now appears to have no future at Villa, especially after former assistant manager Ray Wilkins claimed he had ignored warnings about his fitness earlier this season.

"I had words with Gabby when I was there about his physical condition," Wilkins said.

"He said to me that he could get his own physical condition in nick, and for me not to worry about it.

"I thought at the time that 'we need you' but obviously my words fell on deaf ears."

Defender Jores Okore will join Agbonlahor on the sidelines after claiming to have been exiled to the under-21s squad by caretaker manager Eric Black after demanding an explanation about being dropped from the starting XI.

Villa fans may have had to endure a car crash of a season but Southampton supporters have become accustomed to watching more wins than defeats.

Ronald Koeman's side are on course for a third consecutive top 10 finish, a feat not previously recorded for more than 30 years, when FA Cup-winning manager Lawrie McMenemy was in charge.

Two seasons ago they finished eighth under Mauricio Pochettino and Koeman's first campaign at St Mary's saw them end up seventh last term.

Saints, who finished eighth, sixth and seventh between 1980 and 1982, will kick off at Villa Park in eighth place with a healthy cushion of points over the bottom half teams.

And while Villa will attempt to get their highest earners off the payroll before kicking off next season in the Championship, Koeman will be looking to strengthen his existing pool in the close-season.

Dutch midfielder Jordy Clasie made it clear he was enjoying life on the south coast after joining from Feyenoord at the start of the season.

"It feels like a second family," he said. "That's what I like from a club and that's what I want from Southampton, that they help the players a lot."