Carlos Cuellar hits out at Aston Villa for release

Carlos Cuellar today hit out at the way the Villa board handled his contract situation and claimed he was left "stressed" despite remaining loyal to the club.

The Spanish defender was released by Villa this week, along with experienced striker Emile Heskey and back-up goalkeeper Brad Guzan, after he was informed his current deal would not be extended.

Cuellar was linked with a move away from Villa during the January transfer window but remained on the understanding he would be offered a new contract, which was not forthcoming.

He said: "As a player, you want to play, but I had more of a problem with the way the board dealt with me.

"Had the board said 'listen, we are not going to offer you a new contract,' I would have accepted that. But they said nothing. And yet, in the past, I had turned down offers to leave because I was told I would be given a new contract and would play."

* Villa keeper Shay Given is on course for Euro 2012 after being given the green light to train with the Republic of Ireland next week following a knee injury.