PAUL McGrath's future with Aston Villa appears to be in doubt after
another disappearing act.
Manager Ron Atkinson said the Republic of Ireland defender had been in
Ireland all week and that he has seen him for ''about 10 minutes in the
last month.''
Atkinson confirmed that he would be taking disciplinary action and
also hinted that new contract talks could be ''jeopardised'' by the
player's latest absence from the club.
Last July McGrath failed to report for a trip to Japan, and in January
he was fined after going missing before an FA Cup tie at Exeter. He has
not played since the Coca-Cola Cup final in March because of shoulder
and neck problems.
Atkinson said: ''He should have had a couple of meetings with
specialists at the weekend, but he didn't turn up for either of them. I
can't pretend to be happy with him.''
* FRANZ Beckenbauer and his former assistant Berti Vogts have fallen
out over the release of international players for an important German
league match.
Bayern Munich coach Beckenbauer said national team boss Vogts had
broken his word about releasing Lothar Matthaeus and Thomas Helmer from
national duty if the league leaders were ordered to replay a Bundesliga
clash against Nuremberg because of a refereeing error, as they have
done.
Beckenbauer said Vogts had agreed to let his players fly back early
from Abu Dhabi instead of playing in last night's friendly against the
United Arab Emirates. But Vogts changed his mind. Germany struggled to a
2-0 victory thanks to goals by Ulf Kirsten and substitue Maurizio
Gaudino.
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