Humiliated Villa snubbed offer to share jackpot

WHAT A SHOCKER ... Paul Lambert left reeling as Villa blow Wembley jackpot on - and off - the field

ASTON VILLA were so confident of beating Bradford they rejected a deal to split any Wembley profits with the League Two side.

Bradford made an informal approach before Tuesday’s Capital One Cup semi-final second leg, asking Villa if they wanted to go 50-50 on the money either side would make from the final.

Getting to Wembley is worth £1million in ticket sales, TV rights and prize money.

But even though Bradford were 3-1 up after the first leg, they recognised they could still go out.

So they suggested the two clubs should agree to £500,000 each irrespective of the outcome of the semi.

Some members of the Villa board were said to be up for the deal but boss Paul Lambert was not interested.

Had the agreement been made it would have been subject to approval by the Football League but it never got to that stage.

When Villa rejected the deal, Bradford then tried to insure against being knocked out. The premium was £250,000 but the League blocked it.

Meanwhile, SunSport can reveal Bradford boss Phil Parkinson has worked his Capital One Cup miracle on a wage of just £52,000 a year.

He gets a bonus of £1,000 a point for every one they get over 52.

Bradford are in talks to renegotiate a new deal and Parky, 45, has turned down the chance to manage Blackpool.