John Gregory blasts Christian Benteke for 'disloyalty' to Aston Villa

Former Aston Villa boss John Gregory has accused Christian Benteke of disrespecting the club with his transfer request.

Gregory, who was the last Villa manager to deal with a star striker quitting the team when Dwight Yorke begged to leave in 1998, said he was "gob-smacked" when he heard the news.

"I've been inundated with texts and tweets from fans wanting to know if I've still got the gun I intended to shoot Dwight with," said Gregory in reference to his infamous response to Yorke's transfer request at the time.

"I can understand their feelings. Villa paid a substantial amount of money and rescued him from relative obscurity, and for a year he scored goals and did exceptionally well for the team.

"But Villa, equally, have given him that chance. I just think out of loyalty, he should stay at least one more year."

The 22-year-old striker has sparked a transfer 'whodunnit' for the next few weeks as his name remains linked with Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Gregory added: "You don't put in a transfer request unless you've got a club to go to.

"But Christian Benteke saying he wants to leave smacks of somebody with no respect for the club that has turned him into one of the most exciting players in the Premier League. No respect at all."