Dunne and Collins are fined by Villa
Richard Dunne and James Collins have been fined a total of £200,000 - two weeks' wages each - by Villa for a boozy row with club staff during a team-bonding exercise.
Richard Dunne and James Collins have been fined a total of £200,000 - two weeks' wages each - by Villa for a boozy row with club staff during a team-bonding exercise.
The Villa hierarchy had hoped to impose bigger fines on the pair but were unable to do so after the involvement of the Professional Footballers' Association.
Clubs are able to fine players more than two weeks' wages only in consultation with the PFA, but the players' union deemed that the incident at a Leicestershire spa last week did not warrant additional punishment.
There was no indication as to whether they will face further action which will impact on the playing side, but Dunne is out injured with a shoulder problem while Collins is still struggling with a calf problem.
Neither player would have been involved against Wolves tomorrow anyway.
Manager Gerard Houllier was keen to draw a line under the affair ahead of the Premier League fixture with Mick McCarthy's side.
Houllier said: "As far as we are concerned, this is the end of the matter.
"The club have dealt with the incident strongly and quickly, but now we move on to the main target which is Wolves. It has been dealt with internally by people in the club who were neutral.
"It was difficult for me to be involved in the investigation and give any kind of punishment.
"Once they had accepted the punishment, the matter was over. "
The Villa boss is backing the players, publicly at least, because he is aware of the consequences of further alienating two senior players, although it remains to be seen if they will return to the starting line-up when fit.
Houllier also insisted he did not take the behaviour of Dunne and Collins as a personal slight against his management, despite reported unhappiness with training methods.
The Frenchman said: "The players have quickly apologised privately and publicly. I don't take anything personally.
"I think the club have reacted strongly and quickly. I feel sorry what happened for the club and the fans. Players are young sometimes they make mistakes and then they regret the mistakes.
"Even though Richard is 31 I still consider him young."
