Former Aston Villa captain Gabby Agbonlahor is upset hearing Stiliyan Petrov has been turned down for coaching roles at the club.

Petrov has applied for a post with the youth team, but was turned down.

"It frustrates me about the Aston Villa hierarchy," Agbonlahor told the Claret & Blue podcast. "Someone of Stan's importance to Aston Villa and someone of Stan's experiences in the game. I've never met a more hard working person.

"Since returning from illness he's done every single possible course you can think of., from coaching to becoming a chief exec. All he's been doing is UEFA this, UEFA that.

"A club like Aston Villa, they're turning him down for coaching roles. It's criminal. If that was Chelsea, they make a role for you. Man City, Man United. You've got Nicky Butt in there. At Chelsea, Joe Cole and Ashley Cole are in there.

"Imagine if Stiliyan Petrov was given the under-18s job? It's a no brainer. The under-18s manager left to go to Solihull Moors and, if I was anyone at Villa, who else would you want to bring through the next set of superstars from the under-18s? Stan's quality, he's done the hard work.

"I just don't understand. Is is the academy director who makes the decisions? Can someone higher, the owners or chief executive make the decision? If you ask any Villa fan who they'd want to coach the under-18s now, they'd want Petrov."