Ellis steps in with plan to unload Alpay

Aston Villa defender Alpay yesterday returned to training for the first time since the Battle of Istanbul to learn that his future rests in the hands of club owner Doug Ellis.

Ellis has taken the matter out of manager David O'Leary's hands and will meet Alpay in person during the next seven days to thrash out a course of action.

In return for allowing Alpay to leave without Villa asking a fee, Ellis wants the Turkey centre half to compromise on the remaining eight months of his contract.

The unspoken threat is that, if Alpay stays at Villa, he will not be picked, thus damaging his chances of playing in Euro 2004 should Turkey beat Latvia in their play-off.

Ellis's proposal could save up to £500,000 in wages, which would be added to the small sum earmarked to buy a replacement when the transfer window opens. It would free Alpay to find another club in the New Year, ending an ill-fated 30-month stay that has seen Villa get scant return on an outlay of almost £10million in transfer fees and salary, currently around £22,000-a-week. Ellis consulted O'Leary over the weekend and although the manager has been steadfast in his support of Alpay, he now sees the chairman's suggestion as the best way out.

Alpay, 30, linked up with his Villa colleagues yesterday following the compassionate leave granted to him by O'Leary in the wake of his antics during the decisive Euro 2004 qualifier against England.