Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce has vowed striker Ross McCormack must apologise if he wishes to have a future at the club after the ‘Gate-gate’ situation
STEVE BRUCE has told Ross McCormack his £12million price tag will not save his Aston Villa career if his refusal to apologise over ‘Gate-gate’ continues.
Villa have loaned the Scot, 30, to today’s opponents Nottingham Forest after boss Bruce ran out of patience with him.
Steve Bruce has vowed McCormack only has a future at the club if he apologises over the gate scandalReutersThe Scottish forward has been shipped to fellow EFL Championship side Nottingham Forest on loan for the remainder of the seasonPA:Press Association
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Bruce demanded he says sorry but this week McCormack, who will still have three years left on his Villa deal come the summer, vowed he had no such intention.
The Villa manager said: “Ross has to behave like everybody else. Whether he’s a £12m player or a £12 player, you can’t treat them any different.
“Certainly, he won’t play for me unless he apologises, not to me but to the club and his team-mates.
“Then he’ll be like everybody else — new slate, no problem.”
The 30-year-old has failed to make an impact since his big money move from Fulham in the summerReuters
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Aston Villa currently sit 14th in the table and look set to stay in the Championship for another seasonReuters
Bruce admits it is frustrating to see a big asset playing for a Championship rival. He added: “We’re not just a charity and I’m really disappointed because he’s a decent footballer.
“But the good thing for us is they’ve covered his wages.”
Villa are set to hand a debut to new signing from Brentford, Scott Hogan. He insists handling his £12m price tag after working in a factory to make ends meet at the start of his career is not be a problem.
The ex-Halifax and Stocksbridge Park Steels striker, 24, said: “It doesn’t bother me one bit.
His side were unlucky to go out in the FA Cup after they lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the third round at White Hart LaneReuters
“I’ve worked in factories — the standard 6-2, 2-10, 9-6 shifts.
“It was a lot of chemical stuff, recycling plants, stacking shelves, throwing tyres on to a belt all day. Tedious.
“You don’t want to do that the rest of your life but you have to earn money.
“It just means when you play football it is a hobby and privilege and you are getting the rewards for it.”
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